Alcoholic Drinks - Personal Preference

[x9200]

Well you do get hot mulled wine, a spiced wine drink, aka gluhwein in Germany. But the trouble is that the heat evaporates off the alcohol rather defeating the object. The solution to that of course is adding a shot (or+) of rum or similar to the mug right at the point of serving. Phooo-ee the fumes sure as heck wake you up! Rather like a hot flask of sake after a day out skiing... ker-wham!

Compared to Jagermeister or maybe Long Island Iced Tea?

Jagermeister is bitter and normally you don't want to drink it as a drink. Gluhwein also contains some herbs (typically cloves, sometimes a bit of cinnamon) and it's sweet. You can buy it from time to time in Ikea. It is a bit lighter than the German version but falls into the same category. Drinking it in Singapore is no fun. You need a cold weather. In Europe you can buy it from a street stall and you drink it warm.

[v4jr4]

Somehow, I remember alcohol soaked with centipede or scorpion. My friend said it's drinkable, but . . . euh

I've tried the one with snake in Vietnam. Rice wine. Still as fiery but I can't remember what else that could've make this snake wine special (the rice wine was so strong that it blurred my taste buds).

I'm not even sure if they remove the poison. Some articles said that it's still in.

Jagermeister (‘Hunter-master’) is a herb-based drink that kids these days abuse to get whacked (don’t get me wrong I’ve done it too). But IME it’s not nice, you do it in shots, as a chaser on beers. It’s like, what’s that stuff.... Benedictine? ... no thanks. Maybe as a small glass after dinner as a digestif*... otherwise no way recreationally.

Wow. I saw a couple of bottles displayed in ION (I guess it's a new shop). Never tried that before, but let's see if I can pick one or two (especially for sake in carton).

[v4jr4]

Jagermeister is bitter and normally you don't want to drink it as a drink. Gluhwein also contains some herbs (typically cloves, sometimes a bit of cinnamon) and it's sweet. You can buy it from time to time in Ikea. It is a bit lighter than the German version but falls into the same category. Drinking it in Singapore is no fun. You need a cold weather. In Europe you can buy it from a street stall and you drink it warm.

IKEA? I didn't check the food and beverage section. But I can remember some of my friends only bought beers.

[JR8]

SMS - I don't know what bit is about Mekhong. One time I was told it contained amphetamines but I don't believe that. Perhaps it is more likely that it is just 'rough brewed and distilled', a sort of genuine hooch.

Lynx - VNese snake rum. One time there my guide explained to me in no uncertain terms that men drink it to '... [banging fist loudly on table] Make hard!'. (No I'm not making this up!)

[x9200]

I can understand it, but.... how about going to Carrefour or wha’ever getting something like a Duvel, chilling it down, and then pouring it and drinking it... just like it was a glass of wine before dinner.

Surprisingly you can buy Duvel pretty everywhere around but I seldom see anybody buying it or drinking in pubs. Proper Duvel glass ads to the pleasure.

[x9200]

Jagermeister is bitter and normally you don't want to drink it as a drink. Gluhwein also contains some herbs (typically cloves, sometimes a bit of cinnamon) and it's sweet. You can buy it from time to time in Ikea. It is a bit lighter than the German version but falls into the same category. Drinking it in Singapore is no fun. You need a cold weather. In Europe you can buy it from a street stall and you drink it warm.

IKEA? I didn't check the food and beverage section. But I can remember some of my friends only bought beers.

They also sell or used to Swedish vodka.

[JR8]

Surprisingly you can buy Duvel pretty everywhere around but I seldom see anybody buying it or drinking in pubs. Proper Duvel glass ads to the pleasure.

The other real treat is Chimay. When you drink beers like that you realise how pedestrian, how bastardised, most retail beer is [anyone care for an Anchor?].

I agree that you can make a case that in the tropics most people probably don't want to get stuck into an 8% beer, as it could be argued that the taste is not as refreshing as something lighter (example: Heineken).

That said, in some cultures (Scandinavia) beer is drunk together with a meal in place of wine.

p.s. What would a Duvel/Chimay cost in an SG pub? I cringe at the thought!

[x9200]

I am not sure. I always get it from CS (~$S8 per standard 330cl). Chimay could be also found in CS but not always and not all the 3 colors. I don't recall seeing the yellow/golden one. On the other hand I know some places where you can or could buy Chimay Blau in the 750cl corked bottles.
8% is fine, especially for Duvel with its wheat-like appearance and taste (to some extend). I would be very interested to know where in Singapore they serve draught Duvel. Most popular Belgian ones served from the tap I have seen so far were Hoegarden (the plain kind) and Leffe Blonde.

[v4jr4]

I agree that you can make a case that in the tropics most people probably don't want to get stuck into an 8% beer, as it could be argued that the taste is not as refreshing as something lighter (example: Heineken).

Most people that I know stuck with either Heineken, Tiger, or even TsingTao. Well, it's easy to find, especially around HDB

anyone care for an Anchor?

Is it the same as the misspelled version "Anker"?

[JR8]

Hoegarden and Leffe are the 'big ones' you'll find on tap (draft) in the UK too. But they're $$$ and pubs must make a heck of a margin on them. In London you'd pay £3 for a pint of Stella (brewed under license swill), but £4 for a Leffe, and that was *at least* five years ago.

I have friends who will drink nothing on draft, as they consider their palette a 'higher realm' than the capabilities of any bar-staff in the periodic cleaning out required by a draft beers' cellar > bar-top plumbing.

If you gimme a tick I have a pic for you...

[JR8]

Czech Budweiser, this week.... mmm!

[zzm9980]

Somehow, I remember alcohol soaked with centipede or scorpion. My friend said it's drinkable, but . . . euh

I've tried the one with snake in Vietnam. Rice wine. Still as fiery but I can't remember what else that could've make this snake wine special (the rice wine was so strong that it blurred my taste buds).

I've had this a few times and can't tell it apart from homemade rice wine without a reptile in it.

[x9200]

Czech Budweiser, this week.... mmm!

Try some Polish beers while you still in Europe and have opportunity. Majority of pale lagers are pretty good:

Zywiec is a classic:

Tyskie, Okocim, Lech, Warka...


Okocim Wheatbeer (Przeniczne) (yellow label) is very good.
There are plenty of more heavy ones too but they are less safe (2-3 may kick you down and guaranty an unforgettable hangover for the rest of next day

[JR8]

Czech Budweiser, this week.... mmm!

Try some Polish beers while you still in Europe and have opportunity. Majority of pale lagers are pretty good:

Zywiec is a classic:
-
Tyskie, Okocim, Lech, Warka...
-
Okocim Wheatbeer (Przeniczne) (yellow label) is very good.
There are plenty of more heavy ones too but they are less safe (2-3 may kick you down and guaranty an unforgettable hangover for the rest of next day

I think Tyskie is maybe the only one I have had. Where I am currently based, I think it's fair to say they are so proud of their own beers that they don't import much at all. Shame. I do know of one specialist beer shop not so far away. Next time the snow clears I'll hobble down that way and see what I can find!

[taxico]

a good scotch, or a few of these


the drink, not the guy.