Sake! I believe that it has been too long since I imbibed that with some sashimi and/or sushi. While homeported in Japan for two years, about four decades ago, I learned not to engage in drinking contests with the Japanese men.

One example. At a new years party at a bar owners house, I was seated next to the man of the house and he started me off with the obligatory Sake 3 X 3. That is you have three of those little cups of hot sake three times. After the formality we settled in for several of those little bottles of hot sake and some of the other Japanese treats prepared by the host. By this time the candied baby squid and other treats didn't phase me. During the evening the host switched us from sake to Johnny Walker Black Label. The path up the hill to the house I rented seemed exceptionally steep that morning.

Pumpkinslinger...Steeped is to bring the sake, in a covered pot, to a temperature that is hot, but not too hot to drink. Something like hot coffee...

Bushy, thanks. The only definition of "steeped" I've ever heard is to soak it in water.

Oh, my.

Well probably the most different stuff is a liquor that the Germans make for Christmas. The Germans call it Kimmel and the Greek Ouzo is similar. Not any of that panty-waste store bought stuff, real 198 proof keep it in the freezer and serve it in a bed of crushed ice stuff. Both taste like liquorish, which I do not like. But when in Ramstein, do as the Germans do.

If you want a real taste treat try St Helena wine from Greece. It is their yellow wine, made from pinesap. Real tasty stuff. Just like drinking good ole pine sol. It is an acquired taste! I just do know how you drink enough to acquire the taste.
Best,
Ed

Ed,

Talking about Retsina are we now. I know very few Greeks who drink it over the many Italian and French wines. But it seems to be popular enough the Liquor stores here carry it.

Australia makes something similar called "Resin wine" or something similar.

Still its been so long since I had any I'm not sure if I got the taste for it.

Dimitri

Pumpkinslinger...When I was in Japan and Singapore that's how they did it. Put the "tea" pot in hot water in a sause pan and heat it...Hence "steeped"...First you bring the water to a boil and take it off the stove and place the pot of sake in the sause pan and let sit until ready to serve...

While I was in Crete I found that Greek wine was drinkable. Nothing more. Nothing less. I did find their beer more then enjoyable though...

In the military I learned if you are willing to try anything, if someone else will drink it first, you get to try some pretty unusual stuff.

Bushy, for some reason most countries can make a pretty good beer, even if their other beverages are no so great.
Best,
Ed

Back when I use to drink, in Germany we use to drink the local shine they called it farmers diesel we called it tractor gas . It was some potent stuff

Joe

Bushy, thanks again! That makes sense to my feeble little mind!

pth1947 wrote:

I've drank Meed its honey wine.

Yep...mead is a lovely drink...very sweet, but definitely very moreish...and it does tend to creep up on you...from behind with a big wooden mallet.

I think a couple of the most vicious drinks I have every imbibed would have to be Apple Corn in Germany and Scrumpy in England. The Apple Corn is basically refined rocket fuel...3 shots and you are anybodies...believe me. The Scrumpy is Apple Cider and all I found was, that apart from getting as drunk as a maggot, I would get most bilious and hurl further, and more, than anybody else.

Never heard of Resin Wine 'Mitri, but there used to be a little Italian guy, in a small town called Kirup in Western Australia, who used to make a wine we all called Kirup Syrup. Now that stuff was awesome...make a Willy Wag Tail fight an Ostrich. I suppose it was really a form of homemade vino that is so common among the rustic folk in Italy and Sardinia.

These days, the only time I tempt fate with home made alcohol is with my home brew beer, and that is pretty docile really at only 4.9% alcohol.

Cheers, Vince

Last week my grandmother bought coffee flavored soda .That is a interesting flavor .

Where I live, it is pretty much populated by folks that believe in going about their own way, without interferance from anyone. If you go out into the country around here and are offered a drink, it is an insult to refuse, once it is poured. However, there are those that only drink a clear liquid poured from a quart Mason jar. So it is your responsibility as a guest to understand what may happen if you accept the invite. Three of my friends only drank from a Mason jar and if offered a drink that was what you got, two only served without water and one with a water side but only if you asked. Water is pretty much considered cityfied and only done by a woose. All three are gone now.

But growing up drinking from a Mason jar teaches you a lot about what is acceptable and what is not, especially about people.
Best,
Ed

PS Apple Corn is tough the next day, cause you tend to drink a lot of it if you do not know what is comming.

Whittling...You stick with the coffee for a little while more. The stuff we are talking about will grab hold of you and when it lets go you may not like yourself....Your time will come...

Bushmaster wrote:

Whittling...You stick with the coffee for a little while more. The stuff we are talking about will grab hold of you and when it lets go you may not like yourself....Your time will come...

Very sage words Bushy, very sage indeed.

Whittling, no disrespect intended mate, but heed Bushy's words, there is much experience in them.

Cheers, Vince

Vince,

I never seen it myself, some people I know claim it exists over there.

SwampFox wrote:

it is an insult to refuse, once it is poured. However, there are those that only drink a clear liquid poured from a quart Mason jar.

I don't think any culture really appreciates someone saying no to a drink. I guess your talking about moonshine? What do they make it out of over there?

In Greece and Italy moonshine is made with the left over solids from making wine known as Tsipouro or Grappa. Grandfather used to make a lot of wine and Tsipouro (read small scale commercial enough to supply a great number of family and friends) has not in the last 4-5 years however.

SwampFox wrote:

All three are gone now.

From bad moonshine or old age?

Dimitri