Vulcan Mind Meld
1 1/2 oz. Ouzo (anise) liqueur
1 1/2 oz. Bacardi 151 rum
Pour the two ingredients into a double-shot glass and drink quickly. If you’re smart.
When a shot has a name like Vulcan Mind Meld, you figure it is going to be a real haymaker without even knowing what’s in it. After hearing the ingredients in this shooter, we asked research and development to educate us just a little bit on ouzo anise liqueur. I’ve heard of Ouzo before and know it’s origins to be Greek. But beyond that, the entire taste team was pretty unfamiliar with this centuries old potation. Only one team member could ever remember trying it.
The R & D department came back with this helpful summary. Ouzo is an anise-flavored drink popular in Greece and it’s taste is often compared to Sambuca (a slight licorice taste). Ouzo is often referred to as a particularly strong drink, although its alcohol content is not especially high compared to other liquor. The reason mainly has to do with its sugar content. Sugar delays ethanol absorption in the stomach, and can often mislead a drinker into thinking he can drink more since he doesn’t feel too tipsy early on. Then the cumulative effect of ethanol comes on and the drinker can get shit-faced rather quickly. In Greece, it is considered poor form to drink Ouzo on an empty stomach. It is usually consumed with heavy meals because food prolongs the absorption of ethanol and a person can hold out longer before getting wasted.
Leave it to those Greeks, God bless ‘em.
And thanks, research and development !
We had to send Timmy the office lackey down to the liquor store to get a bottle of Ouzo. There are three of four brands that are commonly sold in the States. Feel free to go with any one of Boutari Ouzo, Metaxa Ouzo, Sans Rival Ouzo, or Ouzo Plomari. You can likely purchase any of these labels for around $15-24 for a 750 ML bottle.
As far as the rum component, just make it easy and go with Bacardi 151.
The other day, we were in search of a shot with some balls to it. And we found it in the Slippery When Wet shot which had Everclear in it. And now we found it again with the Vulcan Mind Meld. We tried four rounds of this shot. However, we somewhat showed the bad form that the Greeks frown upon. I usually only eat breakfast when there are bagels or muffins here at the office. Luckily, today we did have some awesome bagels someone generously brought in. But a bagel and cream cheese proved to be a little light as far as warding off the effects of the Vulcan Mind Meld.
The taste was very unique. There was a trace of the rum flavor intertwined with a very slight and subtle wisp of licorice. Nothing like the licorice taste of Jagermeister or straight Sambuca. But the shot is rather small at 3 oz. as compared to some shooters that we sample. I tossed it down and got more of an aftertaste rather than a full-embodied taste.
ShareMyShot gives this Greek delicacy a 3 on a scale of 5. The taste wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t overtly pronounced. And other than the novelty of trying Ouzo for the first time for most of us, there wasn’t a whole lot of creativity to the shot. It did have some kick. Definately had some kick. Friggin’ bagels.
Now we have a mind to try another unique alcoholic beverage on our world tour……….saki !!
Cheers !!
