Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009

Does the world need another aphrodisiac? Yes please!

Aphrodisiacs in the form of liquor? Now you're talking.

For reasons unknown, I've never been able to suck down an oyster. I'm not a fan of the scent of patchouli. The smell/texture of durians probably would make me hurl. And chocolate has milk in it... Me + lactose-intolerance = not sexy.

My boss put a mini-bottle of Yazi, a ginger flavored vodka by Hood River Distillers on my desk. At first I was like "YES! Drinking on the job!" But when he said it was for a potential blog topic, I went "YES! Drinking on the job!"

The product is targeting women, claiming it's a strong aphrodisiac, incorporating four types of ginger along with lemon, orange, cayenne and red pepper.

It's pretty hard to tell whether alcohol is really an aphrodisiac, considering it just gets you loose. Sure, there's some science behind how it reacts with your body, but in the end it's a sure-fire way to get into somebody's pants -- that is, if they don't pass out or blow chunks on you first.

The large bottle is beautifully presented with a Chinese dragon etched on the front, supposedly as a symbol of strength and confidence. Promotional parties were held in Oregon, it's birthplace.

Still, I must laugh when the words like ancient, elixir, exotic, Asian, etc., are used to describe the product. For crying out loud, they paired the drink with fortune cookies at its debut. Most people know that if you travel to China, you probably won't find any fortune cookies after your meal. Nothing is more American-Asian than fortune cookies and a dragon.

"Asia has had a big impact on cuisine in the United States and around the world. Cocktails are beginning to reflect that trend with the use of such ingredients as sake and plum wine, or now, Yazi Ginger Vodka."

In its defense, Yazi is something I would probably purchase out of curiosity. Having already won honors for its packaging at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, it appears that I'm not the only one obsessed with aesthetics.

Modeled after a perfume bottle, I would probably use it as decoration in my house or as a paper weight when it's empty. An aphrodisiac and an office tool in one! How exceptionally progressive.

While I have yet to test out my mini-bottle of sexiness, I am excited to try one of the recipes supplied on the HRD website. Stay tuned for the evaluation.