When I was a kid my Uncle had a job where he traveled the world. He was a bachelor, a drinking man, and some kind of mechanic, I think. His annual holiday visits always included a bottle of whatever the local drink of choice was from his most recent adventure.
The Christmas after his trip to Mexico, my uncle proudly plunked down his usual bottle of regional plunder. As I searched for signs of toys or treats made in Mexico, my eyes landed on the bottle on the table. Was that a worm in there? I watched in childlike awe over the course of the night, as my parents and uncle polished off the bottle.
The last shot was poured, worm and all. My Uncle tossed back the tumbler with a smirk. His booming laughter taunted me as my face contorted in shock and disbelief.
What was the power of this drink that could convince a grown man to eat a worm? I found out for myself at my first Cinco de Mayo party in college.
While eating a worm seems pretty crazy to a kid (especially one whose Mom spent the better part of a decade convincing him not to put weird things in his mouth), in the adult world it’s pretty tame. Turns out, the moth larvae in a bottle of Mazul is a pretty run of the mill food item in Mexico.
Moth larvae isn’t where the alcohol infused craziness ends. We’ve found some of the most bizarre adult beverages that will blow your mind. Sit back, grab an insect-free drink, and check out these crazy concoctions.
Cambodian Tarantula Brandy
No need to ask for a refund, that spider is supposed to be in your drink. In Cambodia, combining a whole tarantula with brandied rice and jack-fruit is commonplace. Adding to the ick-factor, the tarantulas are served up fresh. They’re tossed in live to adorn your drink like an olive or a lime. It might seem strange, but it’s not unusual in Cambodia. In their culture Entomophagy, or the human use of insects for food, is common. Vendors sell deep-fried tarantulas like corn dogs at a street fair. They’re a common menu item at bars and restaurants, and waiters will tell you they taste like chicken. I’m not buying it though.
*Fun fact: The bars get their live tarantulas from hunters who find them in the surrounding jungles. That means that tarantula hunting is a legitimate career option in Cambodia. If you didn’t have to capture them alive, I might be in.
Snake Whiskey
If a tarantula in your glass wasn’t enough, try a snake in your bottle. Originating in China, snake whiskey is popular all over Asia. In Laos in particular, animal infused whiskey is typical at shops and bars. They believe that the snake’s soul is released into the alcohol, and absorbed by those who drink it.
Although the snakes can vary, Cobras are a common choice. You might be thinking, ‘wait a minute, aren’t cobras venomous?’. Yup. The alcohol neutralizes the venom, making it safe for human consumption. You’ve got to admit, it does look like a hardcore bottle of hooch. I think I’ll stick to a nice snake-free Scotch though.
Saliva Wine
Chicha is an ancient Peruvian wine made from maize. So far, so normal. Just wait for it.
The Chicha crafter kicks off the fermentation process by chewing up the purple corn used to make the wine. They spit out their lumpy mess of maize, and leave it to convert the starch into fermentable sugar. The sloppy corn lumps are then distilled into a pretty normal looking wine.
Although the spit germs and enzymes are broken down during a lengthy boiling process, I’m still giving boiled spit wine a hard pass.
Algae Beer
Chicha is an ancient Peruvian wine made from maize. So far, so normal. Just wait for it.
The Chicha crafter kicks off the fermentation process by chewing up the purple corn used to make the wine. They spit out their lumpy mess of maize, and leave it to convert the starch into fermentable sugar. The sloppy corn lumps are then distilled into a pretty normal looking wine.
Although the spit germs and enzymes are broken down during a lengthy boiling process, I’m still giving boiled spit wine a hard pass.
Sour Toe Cocktail
We know the rules, we saved the best for last. By far the most bizarre on the list, the Sourtoe Cocktail comes to you from the crazy land of Canada. The cocktail can be anything you want, from champagne to Rum, but they all include one ingredient: a human toe.
The tradition began when a local from the Yukon territory discovered the 50-year-old alcohol-preserved toe of a miner in an old cabin. He began dropping the toe into the drinks of those who dared, and so formed the Sourtoe Cocktail Club.
After seven years of service, the toe was swallowed in an unfortunate incident involving 13 glasses of Champagne and a wobbly chair. Tied to the tradition, people donated replacement toes. One came from a diabetic amputee, another from frostbite. A third came from an anonymous source, while another arrived with a word of advice: “Don’t wear open-toe sandals while mowing the lawn.” All in all, the bar has been through at least 8 toes. In 2013, a patron even swallowed a toe intentionally, willingly paying the $500 fine for doing so.
If you’re crazy enough to venture to Canada and order a Sourtoe Cocktail, then there’s only one rule you need to know. Drink it fast or drink it slow, the lips have got to touch the toe.
At Home Infusions
Skyy Blood Orange
We’re assuming you don’t have a preserved toe, venomous cobra, or live tarantula lying around, but you can still enjoy some interesting infusions at home. For something a little less on the wild side, try Skyy Infusions Blood Orange. Zesty, bright, and sweet, this alcohol isn’t infused with anything that used to have eyes, but it’s still pretty delicious.
Smirnoff Sours
If you prefer sour over sweet, we suggest trying Smirnoff Berry Lemon Vodka. A crisp clean vodka with a sour bite that’ll pucker your lips, no animal soul attached.
Cake and Whipped Cream
If you’re more into delicious than adventurous, we suggest Pinnacle Cake or Whipped Cream flavored vodka. Although the flavor choices aren’t as seriously strange as snake or seaweed, they also won’t make you feel like throwing up in your mouth. They’re delicious and smooth going down, and aren’t full of venom or spit. Sounds like a win-win to me.
First time getting Saucey? Use Promo Code: READINGROOM for $10 off your first order. Cheers!
