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The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

nytimes.com

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Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#111

Post by defen »

jrochkind1 wrote: post #6

I like it fine, it doesn't taste especially unusual among other herbal bitter liquors, a category I like. It's not the best (or as expensive as the best! they can get pricey), but it's not the worst, it's a fine drink. The NYT story above mostly stayed away from how it's become known as like "the worst drink ever" or something, something you drink as a kind of challenge rather than that it's enjoyable. I've suspected…

Yeah, everyone knows that the real worst liquor ever is Ng Ka Py. Either they made it differently back then or John Steinbeck never actually drank it.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#112

Post by wl »

wsatb wrote: post #86
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…

Every batch is different, some are more bitter than others. I think the new owners were planning to change that, but I feel like it hurts the appeal. The surprise is part of the fun. I do not mind the taste, most of the time. Some bottles are especially bad though.

The batches being consistently less bitter is one of the first things I noticed about new bottles after CH acquired the brand.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#114

Post by Glyptodon »

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…

I tried it hoping it would be kind of vaguely like Absinthe mixed with w/ grapefruit extract and quinine, but it just tasted like burning gasoline or jet fuel to me.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#115

Post by dh2022 »

BobaFloutist wrote: post #46
tptacek wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just that it tastes bad. Elisir Novasalus tastes bad. Lots of things taste bad. Malort tastes like something you are not supposed to be drinking; like solvents, like something leaking out of the engine of a car. Not in a good way. It tastes like a bad product .

I mean if you're not a heavy drinker, most liquor tastes like a solvent.

I am not a heavy drinker, and I absolutely enjoy all sorts of liquors: cognacs, whiskeys, vodkas, gins, etc... None of these taste like solvent.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#116

Post by astrange »

MisterTea wrote: post #88
selectodude wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fernet is 100x better in every way.

That is not saying much coming from a guy who thinks Fernet tastes the way a mens room smells on a hot day when chilled.

Fernet tastes like mint toothpaste.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#117

Post by kreeben »

supplied_demand wrote: post #16
jrochkind1 wrote: post #6

I like it fine, it doesn't taste especially unusual among other herbal bitter liquors, a category I like. It's not the best (or as expensive as the best! they can get pricey), but it's not the worst, it's a fine drink. The NYT story above mostly stayed away from how it's become known as like "the worst drink ever" or something, something you drink as a kind of challenge rather than that it's enjoyable. I've suspected…

==I've suspected that the manufacturer has been actually encouraging this story. == It is an explicit part of their marketing. This [0] excellent advertisement in Chicago states: "Do Not Enjoy. Responsibly." [0] https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/19dvd2j/brilliant_...

In Sweden it goes

1. eat rotten herring (which you'll not enjoy, because it's rotten fish, yo)

2. clean your palette with a disgusting shot of home made malört spirits (or aquavit, equally disgusting)

3. goto 1 until your drunk

4. get laid

Very, very, very few people ever reaches step 4.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#118

Post by sli »

supplied_demand wrote: post #16
jrochkind1 wrote: post #6

I like it fine, it doesn't taste especially unusual among other herbal bitter liquors, a category I like. It's not the best (or as expensive as the best! they can get pricey), but it's not the worst, it's a fine drink. The NYT story above mostly stayed away from how it's become known as like "the worst drink ever" or something, something you drink as a kind of challenge rather than that it's enjoyable. I've suspected…

==I've suspected that the manufacturer has been actually encouraging this story. == It is an explicit part of their marketing. This [0] excellent advertisement in Chicago states: "Do Not Enjoy. Responsibly." [0] https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/19dvd2j/brilliant_...

The liquor store I go to here in Chicago has a small Malort ad on a pole that says "These pants aren't going to shit themselves."

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#119

Post by jknoepfler »

devin wrote: post #98
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…

I find it just fine as well. I feel like a generation of marketing around Malort was "it's really gross!", but it's a distinct taste that I don't think a chunk of people would find so offensive if they weren't heavily primed before trying it.

I'd be curious how it fares internationally. To me it just tastes to me like an anise liqueur with a pronounced bitterness.

I wouldn't be in a hurry to take a big swig of it, but that strikes me a little bit like taking a big swig of soy sauce and concluding it tastes awful.

Re: The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest princess

#120

Post by droopyEyelids »

Glyptodon wrote: post #114
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…

I tried it hoping it would be kind of vaguely like Absinthe mixed with w/ grapefruit extract and quinine, but it just tasted like burning gasoline or jet fuel to me.

This is where it gets tricky.

Malort is bottom shelf example of a “Bäsk” liquor.

https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Bäsk

There are much finer versions of it, and if you’re in Chicago Binnies carries one by Letherbee “Bësk” and if you like that bitter grapefruit/wormwood flavor, it is mana from heaven

https://www.letherbee.com/products

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