The Russian Standard Vodka: Octane Rated?

From their website: "Recognized in its homeland as a benchmark for excellence, Russian Standard Original owes its name and quality to Dmitri Mendeleev's classic formula, commissioned by Tsar Alexander III for optimum balance and purity."

Putting Russian lettering on a bottle of vodka and calling it The Russian Standard ensures some sales, so as far as marketing goes...well done. But I'm here to report on the taste.

As a non-Russian I like my vodka to be smooth. After all, vodka means "little water" in Russian. Hmmm, note to self: when in Russia, don't drink the water. I'm not saying that vodka shouldn't have a bite, I'm saying it shouldn't make me want to run and stick my tongue under the faucet after I taste it...

I removed the Russian Standard Vodka bottle from the freezer and poured it over ice. I brought the glass to my nose and breathed in deeply, the aroma is telling but not terribly overpowering. I put the rim of the glass to my lips and tipped it gently, the cold clear beverage burned everything that it touched. The alcoholic flavor was so strong I made an involuntary Howard Dean-type screech. I added more ice a touch of water and two lemon wedges, cutting the bite. The aftertaste remains.

Bottom line: After I tasted the Russian Standard Vodka, I reread the bottle for an octane rating. At $27 a bottle, there are many other choices that don't taste like acetone. If someone buys a bottle for you, file it in the regift cabinet.

360 Vodka: Eco Friendly Vodka = Gasoline

Tonight I tried 360 Vodka. It's marketed as an eco-friendly choice. You can read their green spiel over at: vodka360.com (duh). Anyway, the husband bought me this bottle to taste, it cost around $20.

I put it in the freezer, where it sat for a couple of days. Tonight I poured it over ice. I lifted the glass and inhaled the aroma, I coughed...it has an intense alcohol odor. I put the glass to my lips and grimaced....360 Vodka tastes like gasoline. Full disclosure: I've never tasted gasoline, but I do love the smell (yeah, I'm one of those weirdos).

You feel the burn of 360 Vodka everywhere: your lips, your tongue and all the way down into your belly. Lawdy, I hope it stops there...I may never go pee again. I'm going to finish this glass off with a liter of club soda, hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to use my taste-buds.

Bottom line: $20 per bottle is pretty cheap as far as vodka goes, but it does make for expensive gasoline...I'm pretty sure this liter of booze could power your car, likely better than ethanol. Hmmm, maybe that's what they meant by "eco-friendly". Oh well, until next time...Cheers!!!

KFC Double-Down Report and Review

It's finally here (for a limited time)! KFC's new Double-Down sandwich meatwich:


This taste test almost didn't happen. The gentleman who works the drive-thru window at my local KFC was wearing a shirt that had so much spillage on it that it could feed the children, all of em. Anyway...I told myself that he didn't make my food and braved the task.

I arrived home, opened the somewhat greasy box that housed the unusual concoction known as the Double-Down which consists of two boneless fried chicken filets held together by cheese and something called "the Colonel's sauce"...oh yeah and there's bacon too. I pulled the meatwich out of the box and took a bite....it's. . .okay.

The chicken filets were on the dry side. It's more cheesy than bacon-y. I don't swoon for cheese. "The Colonel's sauce" tastes really salty. [Enter that's what she said joke here] Ew, did I really just write that?

I'm not a fast food snob. I eat fast food. I like fast food. I just like wearing other pants besides sweatpants, so I don't eat it that often. Also, I'm a label reader. A lot has been made of the Double-Down's 540 calories. I checked out the competition:

Fast Food Calorie Comparison

Wendy's Crispy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich: 460 calories

McDonald's Premium Crispy Chicken Classic Sandwich: 530 calories

KFC Double-Down: 540 calories

McDonald's Big Mac: 540 calories

Hardee's 1/4 lb Little Thickburger: 570 calories

Burger King Whopper: 670 calories

Jack in the Box Homestyle Ranch Chicken Club Sandwich: 700 calories

Hardee's Big Chicken Fillet Sandwich: 710 calories

Burger King Tendercrisp Chicken Sandwich: 800 calories

You get the idea. Though the Double-Down is not being marketed as a low-carb menu item (that I've seen), it's worth noting that it only has 11 carbs. A Bacon Ranch salad with grilled chicken at McDonald's has 12 carbs. Also worth noting, the Double-Down is high in sodium (1380 mgs). Newsflash: fast food is loaded with Na.

Bottom line: I don't get the name. It tastes like chicken...and no, I couldn't finish it:

Vodka Taste Test

As you all know, I love vodka. When I am partaking in the drink, I pretty much stick with Grey Goose although Vox is my personal favorite...it's just harder to find in bars. Anyway, as a lover of the Russian libation I've decided to do a taste test.

I will try 100 different vodkas, two ways. I will first taste each on its own, chilled and then the same vodka with a mixer. I'm not setting a hard time table for this project, but I'd like to complete it in 100 days. I want to try some atypical brands, if I can make that happen within the 100 day time period, great...if not, I'll go over. I will report back to you my thoughts on each.

If you have a favorite vodka or vodka (as the only alcohol) cocktail you'd like for me to try, please tweet me @duchess_rebecca or leave your suggestion in the comments section.

Thanks in advance and stay tuned...as AP would say: "What could go wrong?"