Stoli joins da party

Russian vodka Stolichnaya has officially and finally hit Malaysia, thanks to Carlsberg Malaysia, which now has several liquors in its growing stable.

The guys from CMB and Luen Heng threw a great party at Changkat’s Mango Tropical Cafe. There were good varieties of cocktails, using several variants of Stoli.

The early bird gets the eye

The early bird gets the eye

Impressive selection. Cocktails were prepared by BarPro

Impressive selection. Cocktails were prepared by BarPro

I’ve been having Stolichnaya for a long time, but it’s presence was never big here. It’s actually the pioneer in flavoured vodkas, kicking off the trend way back in 60s.

It’s a vodka made of wheat from the black soils of Tambov in Russia, where the company still owns its own farms. It’s triple-distilled, utilizing only the middle segment of the spirit distillation, rejecting the volatile heads and oily tails of the process.

It’s then filtered four times, before spring water is added.

Lined-up

Lined-up

The flavoured vodkas are really interesting, and more than just them regular fruit stuff. There’re varieties like Chocolat Kokonut, Chocolat Karamel, and Chocolat Razberi.

They sound like liquid desserts. It opens the possibility for some new and interesting flavours never experienced before. I really couldn’t describe some of the tastes my taste buds were subjected to from certain cocktails coz they were entirely alien and confusing. Awesome.

They have a jalapeno one too. Haha. However, they arent big in the RTD scene.

Situation pickin up

Situation pickin up

Sean and Henrik taking their meds

Sean and Henrik taking their meds

Here we go

Here we go

Acquiring Luen Heng was obviously a good call by CMB, whose portfolio is getting impressive. It’s definitely not just a lager player anymore.

You can stalk Stoli on FB here.

 

Brain damage: 8.5/10

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Absolut Texas & Oz

Pernod Ricard has launched yet more Absolut variants, Texas, and Oz, both limited editions.

Absolut’s 8th limited edition bottle is the Texas, which is the first dedicated to a state. It’s designed by Texan artist Cruz Ortiz.

Looks great. The bottle also features Absolut founder Lars Olsson Smith wearing a cowboy hat – only the second time in the brand’s history in which the logo has been altered.

It’s meant to be rich and smooth with notes of fresh cucumber, and a warm spicy character; a flavour inspired by Southwestern cuisine.
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The Absolut Oz is a dry vodka with spiced orange and cinnamon mix, designed by film director Baz Luhrmann. It was during the final stages of filming The Great Gatsby that Luhrmann’s interest in the project to create Oz peaked.

ABSOLUT_OZ_PACK_SHOT_1ML_FRONT

As he said: “Working for the last three years on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous novel, it has been very hard not to think about alcohol, as, after all, ‘The Roaring 20’s’ were a time of Prohibition, when, of course, everyone drank.” Really?? Sounds like fun times.

Actually, sounds like my guys.

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Captain Morgan goes white

The ol’ captain, legendary for its dark and spiced rums, is gonna hit the white rum market. And about time if u ask me.

Did u? Ask me i mean?

Either way, I’m telling. According to Diageo, its new Captain Morgan rum is produced in the American Virgin Islands and is “five-times distilled, clean, slightly sweet and creamy”.

It actually does over a year in oak barrels, but not long enough for a change in colour.

One of my fave rums is the Captain Morgan Black Label, which is a dark rum with blends from Jamaica, Guyana & Barbados.

lk

Sleek

White rums have their uses of course, as they’re the base for various cocktails. U dont wanna be making Strawberry Daiquiris with an aged rum.

They plan to  focus on Caribbean-inspired cocktail recipes with this baby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s40e-DzIxWo

It’s gonna take Bacardi head-on. This was just launched in the US, where Captain Morgan’s growth is in double digits. It’s now the no 3 spirits brand there.

Arrr, capt’n, ya done well matey!

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World-first: Absolut Brand Store launched @ KLIA

Post written by my buddy and fellow alco Paulie:

I was invited to attend the launch of Absolut’s 1st ever retail boutique in the world, in KLIA, representing The Thirsty Blogger of course.

At the event, we were accompanied by cocktails (they had a virgin drink, didnt interest me) made from Absolut Hibiskus, mixed with pomegranate, etc.

Thats all it took for me to get into my comfortable mode, which meant only one thing, Absolut Drownme. You usually get it at Absolut events. Limited edition if you ask me.

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The PRM big guns gave their respective speeches and MAHB’s GM gave the last one followed by the official launch (ribbon cutting) of the outlet.

Pretty nice set up, the event. The outlet itself is located right at the entrance and exit of the sky train platform. Convenient.

I was impressed with the layout of the place. Its the only place in the world that you can find all the flavours of the Absolut family, after their Swedish warehouse of course. However they didnt have the Absolut Pepper and Absolut blue on. There was a couple of their limited edition Absoluts on display.

The highlight of the launch of course, for me was their bar. Yes, you heard me right. The brand store actually boasts a bar that, beat this, sells Absolut cocktails with duty free prices!

The bar that day was run by Mark Tay, the founder of BarSmiths Singapore  and according to him, will be run by one of their boys during normal operations.

Pretty impressive set of cocktails they had. Absolut Calamansi, Absolut Hibiskus Gingerlime, Absolut Hibiskus Chilli, Absolut Hibiskus PomRose and Absolut Hibiskus Tropical Passion. I rated the Absolut Chilli as the best tasting one. I thought that the Gingerlime was good too.

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The rest, just tasted normal to me, though the preparation looked pretty interesting, with Mark scooping out pomegranate seeds for the PomRose and using melted gula melaka for the tropical passion. Picture chilli seeds boiled in hot water and the liquid later used as a flavouring for the Absolut Chilli. Pretty neat eh?

I was so engrossed chatting with Mark and getting high (prepping myself for the next party, (Arthurs Day at Sepang) by the time i turned around, i was the only person still standing there.

Said my goodbyes to the nice people of Absolut and made my way to the main KLIA lobby nice and buzzed.

 

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