ultimatevodka’s posterous

On Tuesday night, I crashed a Russian speakers & culture group at Phebes bar, East Village. Russians, Ukrainians, Russian expatriates, smart Russian speaking Americans and Baltic expats churned the room. It had been organised by a very charming and civic minded fan of the culture.
"Can you speak Russian?" Russian and Ukrainians asked me.
"No," I said cheerfully. I am learning....just very slowly.

I spoke to an Oleg: "I think the richest man in Russia right now is Oleg Depriska," I said.
Oleg: "who?"
Me: "The metals and aluminium tycoon".
"Oh, another oligarch".
I guess there's a million Olegs in Russian.

I was speaking with a lawyer about proof in mathematics when a jocular, open faced local who did speak Russian wandered up to us.
"I'm a lawyer," he said. "You know, I have horns and cloved feet."
"We're both lawyers," I said, also indicating my female companion.
" - And I have a tail tucked away," he continued.
"We're lawyers," I repeated, and he realised what I was saying.
I do know what it's like. He would have had some bad experiences in bars: people just don't understand you -
A Russian wandered over, than quickly ducked away at the realisation he was in the presence of three lawyers.

When I found myself discussing Michel Foucault's "History of Sexuality" with an Upper East side denizen who could speak Russian really well, I needed a drink.

For a bar hosting a Russian speakers forum, Phebes had positives and negatives. The positives were a relaxed ambiance, interesting patrons, good food. The big negative was the spirit selection, particularly the vodkas. I bought Ketel.

On seventh avenue Greenwich Village, not far from where I live, a giant bill-board advertisement for ketel announces "Gentlemen, this is vodka". Ketel is in fact a well regarded Dutch vodka, considered to be ultra-premium. But labels...... I don't know. For me, there's a scratchy, slightly smoky under-burn taste to it. Something just isn't quite there....It's not that smooth. Now people I know and respect drink it. So I can say it will always be safe to drink Ketel.