Like everyone else, I was magnetized by Liam Neeson’s “RELEASE THE KRAKEN” line from the Clash of the Titans trailer. Not magnetized enough to see the movie, but enough to use the quote to incessantly punctuate a moment. And it was with this childish zeal that a bottle of Kraken caught my eye as I wandered down the rum aisle. An “Unleash the Kraken” (copyrights?) advertisement towered above the magnificently designed bottle and I was pretty much sold. From the best I can tell, this dark coffee colored rum debuted sometime last summer or fall. So it was either a heads up move on their part or just convenient timing. Movie connections aside, I decided to give it a try. If your main experience with rum is Bacardi Light or The Cap’n, you should just go ahead and forget all of your preconceived notions. Kraken comes off somewhere between rum and a liqueur like Kahlúa.
I’m currently “releasing the Kraken” on the rocks. Rather tasty with chocoloate, molasses, and vanilla all being present. At 94 proof it also holds it’s own with your standard whiskey. As far as mixing it, I’ve only had it in a Dark and Stormy so far, and it performed admirably. But in general it comes off as a bit of desert drink. Sugary enough by itself to be enjoyed as a nightcap or a postgame celebration. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I picked up a 1.75L bottle for $24.98 so it’s very reasonably priced. You can see some detailed and beautiful pictures of the packaging thanks to NotCot. The official site has some humerous content and a poorly functioning store locator.
Tagged as: rum
There’s no singing to Miley Cyrus for these tailgaters, but they do carry on the tradition of tailgating on top of their cars. For these Nittany Lions fans, the main attraction is the funnel.
Tagged as: beer funnel, penn state
Following in the grand Penn State tailgating tradition of this and this comes a truly absurd video. I’d say this is roughly 20 dudes and 5 unattractive chicks rocking out to Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA before the 2009 Iowa game. If you wanna judge them for cranking the song, go for it. But I’d like to point out some of the other tailgating mistakes going on in Happy Valley:
– Mardi Gras beads (always lame)
– Confederate Flag flying in the background (especially bad above the Mason Dixon line)
– One guy wearing nothing but overalls (props to Zubaz pants guy though)
– Multiple guys wearing jerseys (only girls…only girls)
– Dude wearing a dog tag
– Am I crazy or did the kid on top of the truck make a mixed drink in a handle bottle? I kinda feel like this is the liquor equivalent of tricking out a Honda Civic.
(HT: edsbs)
Tagged as: penn state
The fine folks at Recycle-A-Flask were kind enough to send me over a sample of their product. In order to fulfill my duties as a reviewer, I filled the flask up with bourbon and took it for a test drive at a spring game. Sometimes you gotta take one for the team.
So what separates this flask from the others? For starters, it’s made from recyclable plastic for the more environmentally conscious alcoholic. But that also means that it can be tossed in a recycling bin, will make it through a metal detector, is lightweight, and affordable. These bad boys will only set you back about $2 so it’s not an issue if you need to trash it when it’s empty. The Recycle-A-Flask comes with a funnel and holds five fluid ounces, bridging the gap between sneaking in miniatures or an 8-12oz flask. Personally, my main goal for sneaking in liquor is to prevent the hangover and yelling induced headache that inevitably emerges in the second half. With it’s small size and black plastic, this flask more closely resembles a Blackberry than a shiny metal reminder that you are skirting the rules. I confidently brandished mine with a cop about 7 rows below me in a fairly empty stadium. Now for the real genius of this flask, the clear plastic viewing window on one side allows you to see how much liquor is left. This cuts down on over pours and unknowingly running out.
If you local liquor store isn’t carrying these yet, you can buy standard or personalized versions online at FunFlasks.com. If you check out their you may be able to get one for free. This nifty little flask is easy to use when full and less cumbersome in your pocket when you’re done. The Drunken Tailgate approves.
Tagged as: flask, review
After developing a stigma nearly 20 years ago, boxed wine is on the verge of making a comeback thanks to environmental issues and the success of screw tops on the market. After the major disappearance of party balls and the inability of the Heineken Mini Keg to gain any real traction, the beer industry could head the same way. An engineering student in Australia has developed a way to efficiently store beer in a cardboard container.
“With a two-pronged focus on cost and environmental impact, Hussey’s invention eschews pricier bottles, kegs and cans in favor of a revolutionary collapsible container that maintains the CO2 pressure while barring oxygen. And it’s turned heads. Hussey is one of 14 finalists in the student category of the 2010 Australian Design Award and the Australian component of the James Dyson Award who will advance to the global competition.”
My only question would be whether or not there is a way to cool the beer. Besides that, it works in every way for tailgating.
Tagged as: beer
