Makes: about 2 quarts

4 cups fresh raspberries

4 cups vodka

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

4 cups simple syrup (recipe below)

Gently wash the raspberries and dry on towels. Once dry, put them in a 64-ounce or larger glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Add the vodka and lemon juice and seal.

Place in a cool, dry spot away from sunlight. Let sit for one week. Swirl for about two seconds. Let sit for another week. Add the simple syrup, stir with a wooden spoon and reseal. Let sit for one more week.

Strain the liqueur through a double layer of cheesecloth into a pitcher or other easy-pouring vessel. Strain again through two new layers of cheesecloth into one large bottle or a number of small bottles or jars. Serve by itself or with Champagne.

SIMPLE SYRUP

Makes: about 5 cups

3 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups water

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Stirring occasionally, bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and keep a low boil for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the syrup cool completely. Store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Melrose Ave Is Infused with Green Thanks to the World’s Most Iconic Vodka

The Civic Center of Anderson was the site recently of Iron Chef Anderson — Absolut competition. The gastronomical battle of three of Anderson’s leading chefs, Bill Nickas of Sullivan’s Metropolitan Grill, Jason Parrish of Jax New Orleans’ Bistro and Matt Campbell of Matty’s Downtown, competed for the title of Iron Chef.

Each chef prepared a unique and delectable dish using the secret ingredient, Absolut Vodka in various flavors.

More than 100 guests tasted, critiqued and scored each chef in the areas of taste, originality, and presentation. Bill Nickas of Sullivan’s won the title of Iron Chef Anderson 2008, with his gustatory creation, seared Lamb Chops marinated in “Absolut Citron,” olive oil, garlic and fresh rosemary, served on a bed of parsnip mashed potatoes and topped with an “Absolut Peppar” proscuitto cream sauce. Jason Parrish of Jax scored high marks in the area of originality and presentation.

Additionally, bartenders from each of the downtown restaurants competed for the “Silver Shaker Award.” Ben Moran of Jax was this year’s winner using Absolut’s New Orleans vodka. Aaron Anandani with Matty’s Downtown scored top marks in the category of taste with the use of Absolut’s Vanilla flavored vodka.

Proceeds from the night’s event benefit the Montessori School of Anderson Expansion Project completing the curriculum through the 12th grade.

Judy Booker was the master of ceremonies. Chris Cole, event coordinator, said the event was a success with everyone having a great time and looking forward to Iron Chef Anderson 2009 Challenge.

UK. In the year of its launch, Pinky vodka became the second best-selling super premium vodka in World Duty Free stores, with 12% of category share.

Introduced to the travel retail channel in November 2007, Pinky is described as ‘the world’s most beautiful vodka’ and features a striking, fragrances-inspired bottle design.

World Duty Free Head of Category for Liquor Fraser Dunlop said: “With its distinctive packaging, Pinky vodka has become a huge hit with World Duty Free customers since its launch in November 2007. Sales of this unique liquor have increased as it has become a popular choice due to its unusual colour and flavour.”

Pinky President James Roberton commented: “Getting the number two spot in World Duty Free in our launch year is a tremendous achievement and testimony to Pinky’s unique ability to make drinks better. It’s also a great demonstration to our retail partners around the world of the wonderful ability of Pinky’s packaging and design to stand out and jump off the shelf.”

Pinky Vodka is owned by Los Angeles-based Liquidity Inc, part of VJ Mallya’s UB Group. Duty free sales are handled by sister company Whyte & Mackay.

South Carolina knows a little something about sweet tea — even in its vodka. The Firefly Distillery on Wadmalaw Island, 30 miles south of Charleston, infuses American tea and Firefly vodka. The company also makes muscadine wine-flavored vodka, inspired by the native Southern grape grown in the vineyard at the distillery. Available at liquor stores around the state. For a list of locations, see fireflyvodka.com.

With retailers struggling to find credit and ordinary Russians being forced to change their spending, a vast lake of undrunk vodka is accumulating in distilleries across Russia.

Official statistics indicate a collapse in demand for vodka over the past two months. November inventories of unsold vodka stock have risen to 82 million liters, a 600 per cent increase from 2007, according to the National Alcohol Association.

The vodka lake has grown even as desperate producers have slashed output, which fell by 15 per cent in October according to industry estimates.

Retailers and producers alike attribute the main reason for the collapse in the market to the evaporation of credit, with many suppliers unable to refinance loans from banks to buy new supplies.

“People are spending less money on alcohol and other products because of the financial crisis,” said Pavel Shapkin, the executive secretary of the National Alcohol Association. “As people try to save money, they are turning to cheaper brands.”

Original Source: Adrian Blomfield

A cadaverous Amy Winehouse has been called one. So too the bottle-clutching pre-rehab Lindsay Lohan. And while “drunkorexic” isn’t a medical term, the slang word describing women who skip food in order to drink booze without gaining weight is increasingly on the lips of medical experts. Appearing first on gossip sites tagging skeletal celebrities who appear to live only off of Grey Goose and cigarettes, talk of drunkorexia can now be found on health blogs next to better-known eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, orthorexia (obsession with healthy foods) or even pregorexia (pregnant women who strive to look un-pregnant by not eating). News reports about the phenomenon warn that drunkorexia is rapidly growing among college-aged women trying to avoid beer bellies without cutting out the beer — but dependable statistics on the newly identified illness are hard to come by. “Until someone says ‘I’m not eating all day so I can drink tonight’ — until those people come forward in a study, they’re not going to show up in our numbers,” says Sharon Vanin, a nutritionist who has been treating eating disorders for over 20 years.

Drunkorexia may be statistically elusive but it’s mainstream enough that a recent episode of the A&E show Intervention featured a young drunkorexic man named Asa whose family staged an intervention. According to Diet-Blog.com, 30 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds skip food in order to drink more. And it’s often the hard stuff. “I hardly see women ordering beer anymore. A lot more men are ordering vodkas too,” says Amy Taylor, managing bartender at Mink Nightclub in Toronto, where the diet trend has forced the club to stock more vodka because the low-sugar content makes it attractive for calorie counters.

The blasé attitude some have regarding the disease is scary. “I don’t see the problem with trading food for alcohol. Honestly, all you are doing is taking in different calories,” posted “Nat” on Diet-Blog.com in June. Apart from the dangers of substituting alcoholic calories for ones with nutritional value, there is also evidence the disorder can worsen your dependence on alcohol. (A 2003 study by researchers at Columbia University found that people with eating disorders are up to five times more likely to become substance abusers; it also found more links in cross-addictions, as substance abusers are 11 times more likely to have an eating disorder.) And while experts like Vanin may have never heard of the term until recently, over the years she’s “definitely” seen the behaviour. “I see people compromising their eating so that there can be the calories left for alcohol. It’s the same as some people not eating all day because they are going to a banquet at night.”

A starving body, says Vanin, isn’t able to deal with stress or make healthy decisions. “Inhibitions are compromised. Suicide attempts, promiscuity, dangerous driving and other risky behaviours compound the problem.” While long-term effects of disordered eating include osteoporosis, cardiac problems and even death, immediate signs of malnutrition aren’t visible as our bodies are adept at compensating for a lack of nutrients for a period of time. But eventually, “hair starts to thin, their nails don’t grow, they become constipated and bloated,” says Vanin. She’s treated people from age 12 to age 65, and insists a patient see a health team (including a therapist, physician, nutritionist and, if warranted, an addiction specialist) to address the many facets of eating disorders.

But getting a drunkorexic into treatment can be problematic. “They view family trying to drag them in as jealous,” says Dr. Carol Kostynuk, a consulting psychiatrist and medical director with the Eating Disorder Education Organization (EDEO). While Kostynuk says she only recently heard of drunkorexia, she says at least five per cent of her patients exhibit this type of behaviour. In therapy, Kostynuk gets people to start a food diary of everything they eat so both she and the client can have a clearer picture of the eating patterns. “Control is a big word we use in the industry. These people are experts at hiding their illness,” she says.

Frightening, considering the death rate for people who have had eating disorders ranges between 18 and 20 per cent in 30-year follow-up studies, according to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre. As “Susanna” wrote about drunkorexia on Diet–Blog.com “Unfortunately, I know a woman (and she is well beyond her college years) who… must have 12 light beers a day and this adds up to 1,200 calories. She spends the rest of the day eating carrot and celery sticks with a small bag of pretzels. She is killing herself inside out.”

Original Source: SUSAN MOHAMMAD

Sean “Diddy” Combs stars in a new ad spot for Ciroc Vodka, where he will be showing consumers “The Art of Celebration.”

On October 8, the CEO of Bad Boy Entertainment will make his official debut as the brand’s spokesperson with a 30-second ad spot. Originally, the chairman of the brand was the legendary Frank Sinatra. Fittingly, Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me,” is the official soundtrack of the new commercial.

Ciroc is actually owned by Diageo—the premium vodka that was launched in 2003. However, compared to its counterparts, Ciroc did not do well in the sales. That’s why they’re looking to one of the most famous guys in the entertainment scene to boost their market outlook.

As Arthur Shapiro— an alcohol industry consultant—aptly put it, “It was in nowhere land. It’s getting a lot of attention now (referring to Ciroc),” he continued, “When he says drink. You drink (referring to Diddy).”

It sounds like something only Homer Simpson could love, but at some local bars, bacon-infused alcohols are becoming an increasingly popular reality. The idea is a bit off-putting at first, but when you think about it in the context of a Bloody Mary, which is how they serve it at brunch at Church, (garnished with a flash-fried, bacon-wrapped cherry tomato and spiced up with intense smoked Mexican sea salt, $8) it starts to make more sense. “We infuse vodka with bacon, thyme, and bay leaves,” explains bartender Kevin MacKinnon, “then let it set for 10 days to two weeks.” Over time, the vodka absorbs much of the meaty, salty flavor of the bacon, and after the fat separates and is removed you’re left with a smoky infusion perfect for savory cocktails.

The flavor palate they’re experimenting with at Stix is a bit wider, but it still all comes down to the meat. Although in this case it’s bacon-flavored bourbon, and the process, known as a fat washing, is different from a typical infusion. Essentially, beverage director Paul Westerkamp renders bacon, combines the grease with Woodford Reserve bourbon, freezes it, pokes a hole in the upper frozen layer, and then drains and filters the liquid. It makes for a subtle blend that is surprisingly versatile. The Smoked Apple Bacon Martini (all drinks $14-16) made with Applekorn schnapps is basically a pork chop and apple sauce martini, but light and drinkable. Other creations that maintain that food-you-can-drink approach are the Bacon and Eggs Sour, a frothy, sour, meaty, fruity cocktail made with egg whites and sour mix, and the Blueberry Pancakes and Bacon with maple syrup and muddled blueberries. It’s like brunch in a glass. Now if someone would just get to work on alcoholic donuts.

Source: Boston.com
By Luke O’Neil, Globe Correspondent

ILLEGAL traders have been flogging knock-off vodka which leads to permanent blindness on the streets of Ealing.

Trading Standards officers recently confiscated more than 100 bottles of fake versions of Spar own brand Imperial Vodka, containing methanol.

The toxic alcoholic compound has been known to cause blindness and could be lethal in large doses.

Trading standards has launched a borough-wide operation to put a stop to fake brands of alcohol in shops, and seized the bottles of counterfeit alcohol in Southall on Wednesday, September 10.

The bottles are sold only in Spar supermarkets, but the fake brand has been turning up in other shops, leading Spar to inform the authorities and an investigation was launched.

Trading Standards has also found counterfeit Glen’s Vodka in shops in the borough, which is also thought to contain high levels of methanol.

Samples are being tested by experts, but trading standards have warned people to look out for fake alcohol when they are out shopping.