I still remember the old days, you know back when the Preacher held himself out as the one and only expert in re "it's all good" rum at the Shillery, and when the lapdog, er wolfboy faithfully licked the master's aged butt of rum - while all the time maintaining his own wimpish site was simply a hobby. It soon became obvious that the Frozen One's real motive was to slip over to the dark side, once he'd published enough links to his own site.
That's how many of the rum webmasters came to make their bones to become a made manboy. Post at the Shillery, try to hold forth as budding experts - but never enough to shift too much attention from the Prophet, who could turn on a dime to excommunicate those who did not faithfully submit.
The problem: frequent posting as a self-assumed "expert" doesn't make you one.
But once you've painted yourself into your own "expert's corner", you're stuck there. You can never again admit your ignorance or gulp, ask for advice. Nope, you are now "the expert" and must act like one.
Today's example:
Really? What the Frozen One has clearly said is that "vodka" should not be tasteless, but should exhibit flavors which "enhance" the "vodka experience". As our friends to the north would say:"Last year, I pointed out that there seems to be a divide among vodka producers between those who value purity of spirit above all else, and those producers who allow their vodka spirit to express a certain level of flavour...
...To that end, my call to all producers (new distillers and old) is that when they distill this spirit which we call vodka, the aim should be to eliminate fusel flavours and heavy congeners.
That is not to say that vodka should be refined to the point of being a tasteless spirit. But the flavours that are left within should be light subtle flavours which enhance rather than dominate the vodka experience (and the cocktail experience). This may be a more expensive road to tread; but it is a road that will lead to repeat sales (and perhaps even a Rum Howler Award)."
Mooseshit.
Now while I'm confident that most of our faithful readers are already well aware, let's review the Standards of Identity of our regulations which clearly define "vodka" (pun intended)...
Seriously, only the Frozen One could possibly interpret "without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color" as having "flavours which enhance rather than dominate the vodka experience". Enhance is right. Just like the hidden sugar, glycerol, flavorings and wine that he once seemed to deny, but are secretly added by the cheating distillers to "enhance the rum experience"."§5.22 The standards of identity.
Standards of identity for the several classes and types of distilled spirits set forth in this section shall be as follows (see also §5.35, class and type):
(a) Class 1; neutral spirits or alcohol. “Neutral spirits” or “alcohol” are distilled spirits produced from any material at or above 190° proof, and, if bottled, bottled at not less than 80° proof.
(1) “Vodka” is neutral spirits so distilled, or so treated after distillation with charcoal or other materials, as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.
(2) “Grain spirits” are neutral spirits distilled from a fermented mash of grain and stored in oak containers."
And their profits.
As so well put in the 1994 film Forrest Gump by our Wolfboy-like lead character, "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
The real truths: if a neutral sprit - including grain neutral spirits - exhibits ANY notable flavor or aroma - is is simply not a vodka. Secondly, we are already aware of the industry driven regulators who are beyond lax in giving the Big Three carte blanche to call their bottled spirits by almost any name they choose.
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https://therumhowlerblog.com/2017/01/04 ... for-vodka/