I've never run across a hard spirit that I couldn't taste, at base, as alcohol. Unfortunately for me (and fortunately for the makers of various mixers), the base alcohol taste, to me, is what I imagine Windex must taste like. You can distill Windex as long as you like; it still tastes like cleaning fluid.

In this, I am assured I am a Philistine. Anyway, the upshot is, any kind of alcohol neat, even "sweet" stuff like SoCo or rum, is mostly just yucky to me.

Yes, I can admit it -- wine coolers are my friend! You cannot shame me out of my enjoyment of wine coolers!!1!

I did a vodka tasting last year with, oh, probably 8 different good vodkas. Varying somewhat in quality, which was very noticeable. But even among the very best, there were subtle differences in flavor. Which is to say, there was flavor.

Then again, I like the taste of water, so maybe flavorless is just one of those concepts I don't get.

the base alcohol taste, to me, is what I imagine Windex must taste like

You should try Windex. It mightn't help you like hard alcohol, but at least you'll understand the true nasty.

Then again, I like the taste of water, so maybe flavorless is just one of those concepts I don't get.

I hate the taste of water, which may be where my vodka hate comes from.

I understand they're opening a Windex bar in Greenwich Village next month.

Damn it, fandom is being wanky. Why hasn't F_W caught up yet???

Someone make me go boot my work computer and earn a living.

You should try Windex.

No thank you. I am well trained in the Mister Yucky stickers of my childhood that Windex is the sort of thing that will lead to barf and hospitals, two things I generally try to avoid.

Have you tried Windex? Are you, like, still in possession of all your alimentary canal?

Damn it, fandom is being wanky. Why hasn't F_W caught up yet???

Did F_W catch the scans_daily wank?

but if you're not used to hard alcohol at all, there will be a bite and burn to it no matter how esteemed the malt

Yeah. I guess it's just been so long since I wasn't used to the bite.

I like Appleton Special in my rum and coke.

Perfect.

Did your friend say what about it was wrong?

Nope, and I'm not sure which she had in her rum and coke. I want to try a sip straight as well. And I'll have to keep my eye out for a bottle of Appleton Estate.

Are you, like, still in possession of all your alimentary canal?

Don't let anyone tell you that you have to swallow.

Yes, I have tasted Windex. No, it wasn't on purpose.

But I have never, even in university, tasted alcohol that horrible.

I do like to sip tequila, though, so my taste window probably doesn't align with yours.

Did F_W catch the scans_daily wank?

Twice. It was fun.