Reyka Vodka sent us a bottle of their new vodka, best known at the moment for being made in Iceland from glacial water filtered through volcanic rocks. I’ve actually been more interested in their ad campaign than anything else; it’s very low key and not at all trying to be suave.
We drank about a fourth of the bottle, which is pretty good for us. (The only hard liquor I drink regularly is bourbon.) I know next to nothing about vodka, except to the adage that “the better it is, the less you taste”—and I don’t even know if that’s true.
Reyka definitely has some taste, but I am pleased to pass on that it was a pleasant, almost floral note somewhere at the top of my mouth. Just barely, mind you; this is still vodka we’re talking about. More than that I cannot comfortably say. Here is what it didn’t do, unlike many vodkas I have sipped straight up: contort my face into a purple, coughing anus.
Reyka is also running contest at the moment that, should you find yourself winning, will award you a flight to Iceland for a concert (featuring Of Montreal, a personal favorite) along with nine of your friends. Whether or not you’ll get to soak in a hot spring with Reyka’s knit-cap pixie is unknown.
The Contest Page [IcelandNaturally.com]
You have arrived. Companies are sending you hard liquor! I thought I was living the dream, but my existence pales in comparison to yours.
Also — if I missed it…. what’s your bourbon of choice? Better yet…. pick three price ranges (The ones I use: Plastic bottle, my birthday, someone rich owes me one) and tell me what you drink.
I started out drinking Maker’s Mark, then moved on to Knob Creek and Bulleit. I really don’t know all that much about bourbon, either - or those actually fancy brands or just slightly nice (I think the latter) - but I know what i like.
If you’re a bourbon fan, I highly recommend Basil Hayden. At $30-40 a bottle, it won’t break the bank, and it’s very tasty. It’s made by Jim Beam, but it’s lower proof than their other small batch bourbons (80 as opposed to 100 like Knob Creek and Booker’s), so you get more flavor and (slightly) less drunk.
I’ll second the basil Hayden’s also a big fan of Blanton’s, its in the 50ish range so not one to drink all night or make mixed drinks with
i’m poor so i stick to canadian ltd. at $11 per handle its unbeatable.
http://www.bartonbrands.com/canltd/largeprodshot.jpg
how are the hangovers? older I get the worse they get.
I drink top shelf type stuff not cause I like being a snob but I need to function the morning after. would help if i didn’t drink on tuesdays but thats just crazy talk