Identify the Liquor
1 of 10
What's the base ingredient of a famous Inuit wine that Suzanne Donahue once referred to as tasting like this: "if you opened up a Toyota's carburetor and drank the leftover fluid from inside"?
Fish
Seagull
Owl pellets
ANSWER: That's right. Seagulls. And simply enough, the beverage is made by bottling a dead seagull with some water and leaving it out in the sun until fermentation has run its course. If you think that's particularly odd, many cultures have also used lizards, snakes, and even baby mice as liquor ingredients. That's right. Seagulls. And simply enough, the beverage is made by bottling a dead seagull with some water and leaving it out in the sun until fermentation has run its course. If you think that's particularly odd, many cultures have also used lizards, snakes, and even baby mice as liquor ingredients.
2 of 10
This Italian liquor is made from a flower known as gentian, rhubarb, extract from the cinchona tree (from which quinine is also derived), and the bitter orange, which has been reported to have similar effects to the now-banned drug ephedren.
Campari
Aperol
Disaronno
ANSWER: The liquor is known for its low alcohol content, registering at 11 percent, akin to many wines. The liquor is known for its low alcohol content, registering at 11 percent, akin to many wines.
3 of 10
Cynar is not the same thing as a Cylon. While the latter is a killer robot, the former is a liquor made with what plant more familiar as an appetizer?
Cauliflower
Avocado
Artichoke
ANSWER: The artichoke appears right on the front of the bottle. (Hopefully you didn't use Google Image searches to cheat.) It's the most predominant flavor among the 13 herbs and spices in this aperitif, often mixed with club soda or orange juice. The artichoke appears right on the front of the bottle. (Hopefully you didn't use Google Image searches to cheat.) It's the most predominant flavor among the 13 herbs and spices in this aperitif, often mixed with club soda or orange juice.
4 of 10
Żubrówka is a popular liquor in Poland. While rye makes up a majority of the distillation process, a tincture (flavor distillation) of what plant gives the liquor its unique flavor?
Sugar Beets
Buffalo Grass
Star Anise
ANSWER: Oftentimes, bottles include a blade of buffalo grass in them as well. It may not be as weird as a mezcal worm, but it'll do. Oftentimes, bottles include a blade of buffalo grass in them as well. It may not be as weird as a mezcal worm, but it'll do.
5 of 10
Hirezake is a staple at more upscale sushi restaurants in Japan. What's the secret addition to this warmed sake?
Tiger Fugu fin
Raw eel eggs
Octopus ink
ANSWER: The Tiger Fugu (a species of puffer fish) has one of the most lethal poisons in the ocean, but, if prepared correctly, the fin doesn't contain the toxins. The fin is seared, then steeped in the sake to add a flavor described as "rich earth and nutty tones permeated with an unusual smokiness." The Tiger Fugu (a species of puffer fish) has one of the most lethal poisons in the ocean, but, if prepared correctly, the fin doesn't contain the toxins. The fin is seared, then steeped in the sake to add a flavor described as "rich earth and nutty tones permeated with an unusual smokiness."
6 of 10
Chicha is a maize-based drink traditionally served in the Andean mountains. But how is the maize initially prepared for fermentation?
The collected cud of livestock
Ground, wetted, and mashed by feet in a bucket
Chewed and moistened by the brewer
ANSWER: Though many other methods have been used in recent times, traditional chicha was chewed by the brewer to release the enzymes needed to break down the starches in maize. Though many other methods have been used in recent times, traditional chicha was chewed by the brewer to release the enzymes needed to break down the starches in maize.
7 of 10
Soju is an inexpensive and popular liquor in South Korea. What are many varieties made from?
Bamboo
Ginseng
Sweet potato
ANSWER: Though traditionally made with rice, a 1990s shortage led many companies to instead ferment a sweet potato / tapioca mixture that can range anywhere from 40 to 100 proof. Though traditionally made with rice, a 1990s shortage led many companies to instead ferment a sweet potato / tapioca mixture that can range anywhere from 40 to 100 proof.
8 of 10
What fruit makes the basis for the Ugandan beer tonto?
Unrip bananas
Fermented coffee beans
The root of the cassava plant
ANSWER: Unripe bananas are placed in a pit for several days, and the extracted juice is then fermented. Unripe bananas are placed in a pit for several days, and the extracted juice is then fermented.
9 of 10
This low-grade sugar wine is particularly popular among Finnish punks for its ease to make – it’s just yeast, water and sugar.
Kilju
Pulla
Loimulohi
ANSWER: Though the exclusively yeast / sugar / water combo is currently illegal in Finland, many liquor companies choose to infuse kilju with berries or fruit during the fermentation process. Though the exclusively yeast / sugar / water combo is currently illegal in Finland, many liquor companies choose to infuse kilju with berries or fruit during the fermentation process.
10 of 10
Akvavit is another liquor from the Scandinavian region made with grain or potatoes. Afterward, it's flavored predominantly with what spice?
Coriander
Ginger
Caraway
ANSWER: Also included in the tincture blend are cardamom, fennel, and anise. It is often taken in the form of small shots. Also included in the tincture blend are cardamom, fennel, and anise. It is often taken in the form of small shots.
