The Soaked Vacation to Blighty
Sun 17 March 2013
Its sad but true that the alcoholic drinks available in India are rarely worth anything with the focus more on alcohol content, less on flavor. We have vodkas, whiskies and brandies galore but most of them are just molasses-based pretenders, masked with flavors and aromatic chemicals bought by the vat. So when I went to the UK recently, I was really looking forward to the opportunity to have real beer, ale, wine again. And did I or what. At the end of our less than 1-month long trip, I ended up going through the following long list:
- Welbeck Abbey Brewery Ale
- Laphroaig 10 Years
- Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
- Kappanberg Naked Apple Cider
- Alessandro Gallic Pinot Grigio 2011
- V.O. Ervejacido a Mano 2011
- Louis Roderer Champagane
- Couleurs du Sud Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
- Champagne Conrad-Duchene
- Split Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2011
- Rose d'Anjou Les Roitelles 2009
- Yellow Tail Shiraz 2012
- Rincon del Sol Bonsida-Shriaz 2012
- J.P.Chenet Grenache Noir
- Bailey's Irish Cream
- Hobgoblin Ruby Ale
- Nottingham Brewery Extra Old Pale Ale
- Bombardier Premium Beer
- Ye Olde Trip Ale
- Isla Negra Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012
- Villa Broglia Gavi 2011
- Roche Lacour Brut 2010
- Balck Sheep Bitter
- 1664 Kronenbourg Beer
- Crabbies Alcoholic Ginger Beer
- Cumberland Ale
- Samuel Adams Boston Lager
- Vedett Extra Blond
- Samuel Smith Extra Pale Ale
- Samuel Smith Stout
- Wahaca Mule
- Modelo Negro Lager
Wonderfully, (I'm assuming thanks to the lack of glycerine and artificial flavoring/coloring in the drinks there) despite all this drinking, I rarely woke up with a hangover. However, taking a walk around the supermarket aisles full of cheap wine and pre-mixed drinks made it obvious why the UK is going through a binge drinking crisis of sorts.
Happily, there does seem to be a small artisanal liquor movement in India that is welling up, as a protest against the abysmal quality of liquor that is peddled here I'm hoping. This includes India's first artisanal tequila to the larger operations of Amrut Distelleries which has earned a name for itself for all things, Indian single-malts. Here's more power to this movement (hic!). Excuse me while I go and check on my moonshine still!
Category: Travel