# Looking for an odd liquor; purpose = obscure gift **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 2, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455 "2002-04-02T20:20:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jane\_D\_oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@Jane\_D\_oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_D_oh)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/21 "2002-04-02T22:25:32Z")
Where are the Canadian dopers? Skreech (sp?)from Newfoundland. In my mind, pretty unusual. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/22 "2002-04-02T22:50:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nymysys \* > Oddly enough, there’s a booze here in the VileOrb/Nymysys household that many are fond of named Liquor 43. It’s not a schnapps, but just a vanilla flavoured liquor and yummy as the day is long. Could it be the same thing? 43 = Liquor 43 = Quarenta y tres (43 in Spanish) Also, thought of another one, Pisco which is a Peruvian liquor, usually sold in strange black ornamental bottles (shaped like heads or figures). A couple of Pisco sours will do you up a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/23 "2002-04-02T23:03:09Z")
When I was in Canada weekend before last, I bought a bottle of Amarula, made from the Marula fruit. That’s the fruit that elephants get drunk from, in fact there is an elephant on the label. It’s not sold in the US, so it qualifies as obscure. It’s kind of like Baileys, I guess. So, you could give your ‘party animal’ booze that brings down elephants… ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/24 "2002-04-02T23:59:29Z")
I don’t actually know if this is an odd liquor or not, I know fairly little about alcohol. This bourbon is, however, a legend among my friends: **Wild Turkey**. It’s ridiculously high-alcohol (I think over 100 proof) and has hte most ridiculous name ever! (Hey1 It also has a bizarre website: [www.wildturkeybourbon.com](http://www.wildturkeybourbon.com)) I wouldn’t recommend it for drinkability, though. While I do know two people who have taken shots and lived, my (270 pound, 6’3) boyfriend took one shot and promptly threw up. ---
**Author:** ![Novus\_Opiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Novus\_Opiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novus_Opiate)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/25 "2002-04-03T00:16:40Z")
> [@](#): > > “he’s got a master plan. yeah, he’s gonna make a fortune, panning gold out of a bottle of goldschlager, shot by shot by shot.” Hey, nice obscure reference, YNH. Nerf Herder is a great band. 🙂 Sorry for the hijack. We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. Novus ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/26 "2002-04-03T00:18:36Z")
Even better, Cervaise, I don’t think that bottle of Amarula has been opened yet, and I’ll be working downtown on Thursday. If you’d like, I’d be happy to exchange it for something less exotic of equal value. I paid only about $16 American for it. Is Beppo’s open for lunch? ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/27 "2002-04-03T01:52:58Z")
My friend brought a bottle of “Zwack Unicum” back from Hungary- the stuff tasted like Jagermeister concentrate and came in a bottle that looked like the holy hand grenade of Antioch (and it causes similar devasatation. I’m not sure where you can find it in the states, although they do have a [website](http://www.zwackunicum.hu/eng/indexx.html). ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/28 "2002-04-03T01:55:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mnementh \* > \*\*Absinthe. Always wanted to try it myself, but mostly it’s illegal because it contains THC. I’ve only heard of one brand that removes the THC, called Versinthe. Hey, got for either. It’s strong stuff, and it’s neon green! > > Good luck finding it, though. 😃 \*\* No, it’s not THC; that’s what’s in marijuana. Wormwood is what gives Absinthe its kick. Another wormwood-less variation found in the U.S. is called Absente. [Cecil has this to say about it](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011026.html). ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/29 "2002-04-03T03:11:45Z")
I’m personally very fond of Wild Spirit. It’s a very drinkable, cocoa flavored liquor. It’s 90 proof, so it meets the potency requirement. It’s also very tasty mixed with peppermint schnapps. It bills itself as “the drink of the frontier.” Don’t really beleive it, but it does come in pretty antique-looking bottle. Unfortunately, they redesigned the label, it used to entreat you to “paddle your own canoe,” which was found vastly amusing a many a college party. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/30 "2002-04-03T03:33:41Z")
The Newfoundland Skreech is good. May I also suggest “Parfait L’Amour” notable for it’s richly purple color? The black vodka is neat looking, we have a bottle upstairs, looks like ink. ---
**Author:** ![Tracytron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@Tracytron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracytron)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/31 "2002-04-03T03:56:49Z")
Not sure I’m spelling this right but Escorial is kind of yummy and comes in a really beautiful bottle. ---
**Author:** ![super\_head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@super\_head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/super_head)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/32 "2002-04-03T04:38:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danalan \* > **When I was in Canada weekend before last, I bought a bottle of Amarula, made from the Marula fruit. That’s the fruit that elephants get drunk from, in fact there is an elephant on the label. It’s not sold in the US, so it qualifies as obscure. It’s kind of like Baileys, I guess.** Actually, Amarula IS available in the US now - I saw it in the local liquor store (and bought a bottle) and I had also hoped to be their US distributor, but they already had something in the pipeline (with a much bigger fish than little ol’ me). It’s better than Bailey’s in my opinion - a creamy, fruity, Bailey’s-ish experience. You might also try to get your hands on some Koskenkorva Salmiakki from Finland - or Salmiakki Kossu or however they affectionately call it. It does , however, sound a lot like Black Death. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/33 "2002-04-03T07:44:45Z")
Goat Scrotum Ale… Yellow Snow (from Canada) it could be Whistler’s Yellow Snow Bakalva (Some eastern european nation makes this stuff, its damn good and not available outside of the old soviet block) I don’t remember it being particularly good, but you can’t get it in the US. Tropical (something… by Bicardi) Its a yummy tropical fruit flavored rum shooter. Snazzy bottle and tasty. It was hard to find in MN and WA Appleton Estate (Extra) is a VERY good 16 year rum. If he likes Bourbon/Rye… Go with something nice Old Rip Van Winkle has a nice ring to it, and its tasty. Hrrm try to find, “Old Granddad” Its corn whiskey. 🙂 Ya know, good old hick moonshine. (I think I have the right name) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/34 "2002-04-03T08:04:55Z")
Well, awhile back, someone managed to brew some beer from yeast strains discovered in an Egyptian tomb. That might be good for a lark. …Or if you could find a bottle of the Tennessee whiskey that they used for the Saurian Brandy bottle on the original Star Trek. Who wouldn’t want a 40 year old bottle of liquor made by giant lizard-people? 😉 Ranchoth ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/35 "2002-04-03T08:26:44Z")
Mesimarja, a rather nice little Finnish liqueur made from arctic bramble (except I haven’t seen it in the States). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/36 "2002-04-03T09:20:25Z")
I’ll second the recommendations for Amarula and Raki, and add the Czech _Becherovka_ to the list, a lovely nutmeg liquor. I don’t know if it’s available in the US, though. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/37 "2002-04-03T10:30:54Z")
Some of these suggestions are for pretty common liquors. Amarula, Wild Turkey (which we call “Wurkey”) and Black Vodka are all readily available (and not uncommonly drunk) around here. And if they’re available in Australia, I’m quite sure they’re easily obtainable in the US. For a truly odd liquor, I’d recommend something you can kinda make yourself. Buy a bottle of nice expensive vodka (I’d get something OP) and dissolve hard candies in it (I’m not sure what the US name is, but I mean what we would call ‘lollies’ - the hard sweet things made of sugar). For example, I usually throw about half a dozen small packets of rasperry lollies into the bottle. Leave it overnight and they’ll dissolve into the alcohol (you may have to strain the end-product though). You’ll end up with a vivid pink, sweet-tasting vodka. I’ve also heard good things about dissolving chocolate bars in vodka… mmm! ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/38 "2002-04-03T12:27:34Z")
damn! i was going to suggest absinthe, amarula and zwack unicum! or what about some really good grappa? or schnapps? or a nice bottle of VERY good whiskey? or reiki/raka? (the greek/turkish stuff that tastes like pernod with balls) aqvavit? (norwegian or swedish if you can get it) good quality tequila? ah…inter-railing around eastern europe and the mediterranean last summer really broadened my horizons! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/39 "2002-04-03T14:32:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peepthis \* > \*\* > > No, it’s not THC; that’s what’s in marijuana. Wormwood is what gives Absinthe its kick. Another wormwood-less variation found in the U.S. is called Absente. [Cecil has this to say about it](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011026.html). \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455/40 "2002-04-03T14:44:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peepthis \* > \*\* > > No, it’s not THC; that’s what’s in marijuana. Wormwood is what gives Absinthe its kick. Another wormwood-less variation found in the U.S. is called Absente. [Cecil has this to say about it](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011026.html). \*\* There is a vodka that is made with marijuana seeds to add flavour. It used to be called “THC” but is now know as [Cannabis](http://www.absinth.com/links/cannabisvodka50.html). Absinthe is a unique choice and it has the added advantage of being illegal just about everywhere on Earth, but if you don’t like the licorice flavour, it will be a bad choice. It also causes major, major hangovers. I brought a bottle to our last DFW dopefest but only **Chef** was willing to try it. \*\* ShibbOleth\*\* mentioned Pisco, which is one of my favourite drinks. Pisco Sours are good. It is unique, but anybody who has been to Peru or Chile will have most likely tried it. Sorry about the previous post where I accidently hit submit too soon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-an-odd-liquor-purpose-obscure-gift/101455.md?page=3)