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The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

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Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#101

Post by wenc »

some_random wrote: post #52

I'm a complete weirdo apparently who really likes the flavor of malort, it's bitter and herbal and so if you like those flavors you'll enjoy it. I kinda resent the amount of marketing that the new owners have churned out hyping it up, although I do appreciate what they're doing. If you think you might enjoy it, give it a shot I'd describe the flavor as sweetened church pew, then grapefruit bitterness. If you're not e…

As a former Chicagoan I also enjoy Malört.

To my unstudied palate, it is the bitter cousin to Jaegermeister. It’s a bit more complex and more of a mature drink compared to Jaegers.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#102

Post by jerlam »

sloped wrote: post #48

I’ve noticed an increase in small distilleries creating their own versions of Malört over the past five or so years. It reminds me of the renaissance Fernet experienced 7 or 8 years ago. Malört is definitely an acquired taste—taking a shot of it feels like punishment—but if you enjoy bitter liquors, sipping some chilled Malört after a heavy meal might not be unpleasant. I’d guess that bitterness is the flavor most pe…

Most of the alternative, new Fernets I've tried want to be "Branca, but more approachable", which takes away a lot of what makes Branca so interesting. I don't know if "Malort, but less bitter" is as marketable.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#103

Post by tptacek »

MisterTea wrote: post #87
kiernanmcgowan wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The burnt rubber flavor does grow on you. Kinda like how black coffee is a bit of an acquired taste.

From what I am reading Malort sounds like a bad combo between a disgusting smokey scotch* and Fernet, a liquor that tastes the way a public mens bathroom smells like on a hot day when chilled. And you compare that to black coffee? Shame on you.

They're not even in the same universe. I don't love Fernet, but I appreciate it, and can taste things in it; it tastes like lots of different herbs and spices, some of them unpalatable. On the other hand, to make homemade Malort, simply mix Windex, Everclear, and sugar.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#104

Post by jollyllama »

duped wrote: post #8

> It is also, in five words, the unofficial liquor of Chicago No, it's a meme that hipsters have somehow latched onto because the Chicago aesthetic seems to be popular now. If a native Chicagoan tells you that you have to have a shot of Malort when you're at the bar because it's the "unofficial liquor of Chicago" - they're pulling a prank. It's somehow lasted a century as a prank you pull on your buddies who don't dr…

First a hipster meme and then a forced meme by the makers to capitalize on it.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#105

Post by kasey_junk »

hamburga wrote: post #79

As a Chicagoan, I enjoy Malort regularly, and I like to chase it with light beer. It makes the beer taste amazingly sweet.

Try the exact same thing with Fernet instead. Or Averna, or really any bitter Amaro. They will provide better flavors but the same change to light beer.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#107

Post by defen »

jboggan wrote: post #78

My friends make a cocktail with Malort, White Monster, and C4 preworkout. They also have a multi-year running gag where they offer me a bottle of fine whiskey or bourbon at a campfire but it has in fact been replaced by Malort. Then, when I am choking and gagging someone else offers me some water to wash away the taste, which is in fact also Malort.

> Malort, White Monster, and C4 preworkout

What do they call this cocktail? I suggest "Malörtal Kombat".

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#108

Post by anamexis »

reducesuffering wrote: post #75
giraffe_lady wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are some other liquors in its category? Because it's much higher proof and lower sugar content than the bitter liquors people drink more or less unmixed. There are probably some similarly high proof amaros out there but they're pretty rare even within that category and an american would probably only encounter them mixed into a cocktail if even then. Fernet branca sure but that's much less bitter. Malort is actu…

I think the Nordic countries' Aquavit is more like Malort than the Italian Amaros are. Fun fact: The Nordics are so cold, to age their Aquavit in casks, some producers would load them up on ships and send them to the equator and back. Linie Aquavit still does this tradition. Personally, Italian Amaros are much better than Aquavit or Malort though. Forget Fernet when there's Averna.

I don't think Aquavit is very similar to Malort at all. They lack the bitterness and extreme astringency. Aquavit is more like gin but with a different botanical lineup.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#109

Post by Kon-Peki »

dugmartin wrote: post #82
tptacek wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't drink Windex.

As a former Chicagoan I'd have to agree. I always thought Malort was just a running gag to play on visitors.

Without the purchase-to-fulfill-a-gag market, it probably would have shut down decades ago.

The new owners are a serious distillery, and doing the best job possible with the recipe. This will lead to people drinking it for reasons other than a gag, but will that grow to be enough to leave the joke behind?

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#110

Post by tptacek »

Kon-Peki wrote: post #109
dugmartin wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a former Chicagoan I'd have to agree. I always thought Malort was just a running gag to play on visitors.

Without the purchase-to-fulfill-a-gag market, it probably would have shut down decades ago. The new owners are a serious distillery, and doing the best job possible with the recipe. This will lead to people drinking it for reasons other than a gag, but will that grow to be enough to leave the joke behind?

It pisses me off, because there's no reason for it to exist. There are good products with the same flavor profile Malort attempts (and fails), but Malort swamps them in the market. There's even non-Jeppson Malort now. It's all a stunt.
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