Kirkland vs. Grey Goose

Grey Goose is made from the same water source as Costco's Kirkland Signature Vodka from the Gensac Springs in France's Cognac region.

Grey Goose has received lower ratings than the Costco house brand on many blind taste tests. Competitions where spirits are graded by blind taste testing, Kirkland scores an 88 and Grey Goose scores 82.

Incidentally, Grey Goose costs more than twice as much.

Fried Chicken Tips

Vodka is much more volatile than water, which is the main component of buttermilk, pickle juice, or pretty much any other fried chicken marinade. As such, it evaporates much more rapidly and violently. This helps drive moisture off the crust of the chicken faster, while also creating bigger vapor bubbles, adding surface area to the crust. Both of these mean crisper, lighter fried chicken. Only about two tablespoons of vodka is needed.

Brine helps chicken retain moisture. As chicken sits in a brine, the salt dissolves proteins in the meat's muscle structure, loosening it and allowing it to retain more moisture as it cooks. Brined chickens lose 30 to 40% less moisture than un-brined chickens. Add half an ounce of salt for every cup of marinade.

For each cup of dredging flour called for in the recipe, drizzle about two tablespoons of marinade/liquid into it. After drizzling, work it into the flour with fingers or a whisk then add the chicken pieces to coat. This process makes little chunks, which make chicken crispier.

National Vodka and Golf Lovers Day

Celebrated since at least 2009, National Vodka Day on October 4, 2015 has been mentioned by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and has also been noted in news websites such as CBS. The versatile beverage accounts for about 20 to 25 per cent of spirits sold today in North America, making it the most popular libation.

Totally unrelated, but celebrated on the same day, October 4 in 2015 is National Golf Lovers Day. National Golf Lovers Day, also referred to as National Golf Day. Since 1952, the PGA has held a charitable event each year for National Golf Day, which is held on varying days within the year. We can celebrate a tipple and tip-in on the same day (and watch football).

Spring Weed Killer

Get a head start as spring is beginning to blossom (except for those in the Northeast). Mix one ounce of vodka or vinegar , a few drops of dish soap, and two cups of water in a spray bottle. This works best on weeds that grow in direct sunlight. The vodka breaks down the waxy coating that protects the leaves, and helps the weeds dehydrate. Ants also do not like to cross a path of the mixture.

Vodka Pie Crust Hack

Use vodka instead of water when baking your next Holiday pie. Vodka is only 60% water, so it forms less gluten, which makes for a more tender crust.

Four Useful Household Hacks

Spray nonstick spray on the inside of your votive candle holders. Remaining wax will easily slide out. Use newspaper to eliminate odors in Tupperware, or the crisper bin of your refrigerator, or in a purse with lingering smells. Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to make cut flowers last longer. Rub the cut edge of cheese with butter or olive oil to keep it from getting moldy.

Glazed Donut Vodka

 Here is one that needs to be on your shelf next to the bacon vodka. The trend of strange vodka flavors continues with Glazed Donut Vodka. Created by a company that has other sweet-flavored vodkas. Other 360 flavors include double chocolate, Bing cherry, and cola — it beats the real thing by over 150 calories.

Tito Beveridge

He is the guy behind Tito's hand made vodka that Texans have come to love. Tito's is corn vodka

His thoughts about vodka, potato vodkas are real lean, corn has more body, rye has tartness, and wheat is all over the map. His favorite drink - Tito’s and seltzer, soda, sparkling water or any other bubbly water with a lime and an orange.

Top Seven Uses for Vodka

Fill a spray bottle with vodka and spray on shower mold. Let set fifteen minutes and wash away.

Use vodka to spray on insects in the yard to get rid of them.

Pour vodka on skin that has come into contact with poison ivy, and the alcohol will wash away much of the itchy urushiol oil. Saw this one on Mythbusters.

Keep your clothes smelling fresher with vodka by spritzing then hang to dry in a well-ventilated area. Vodka kills odor-causing bacteria, but doesn't leave a scent when dry.

Moisten a soft, clean cloth with vodka, then rub chrome or porcelain for a sparkling surface.

Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to the water in your flower vase to keep your flowers fresh longer. Change with fresh ingredients daily.

Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo for squeaky clean and shiny hair.

Of course the best use of vodka is to buy some bacon vodka and make the perfect morning Bloody Mary.

Speaking of Drinking

A friend of mine, Joe Dougherty sent me this one and I couldn't resist sharing. LINK It is about how to make bacon infused vodka. The Allston Yacht Club bar serves a bacon and egg martini. It shows how to infuse vodka with bacon, then serve with a quail egg. Oh, yes, the site also shows 1,001 things to do with bacon. Yumm!

Speaking of Bacon

Bakon Vodka will run you about $30 a bottle.
Can you think of a Bloody Mary with a hint of bacon?
OK, enough. Sometimes I do go off on tangents.