Absolut New Orleans Vodka

[alanstotle]

From what I can tell there isn't a thread about this, but if there is please direct me to it.

In the grocery store today I saw a bottle of Absolut New Orleans vodka. It's a mango & black pepper flavor. Anyone tried it? I'm intrigued but don't know whether I want to buy a bottle just to taste it.

[The 9th]

750ml bottle are being blown out @ Vons in So. Cal. for $9.99.

I tried it w/cran eeeh, Pineapple juice eehh. Belive it or not I was drinking a can of Mt. Dew Code Red and mixed some in....it's suprisingly the best. You can taste both the mango & black pepper. It's light not heavy like w/the pineapple.

[Alcachofa]

I knew some Latin American cultures pepper their mangoes (the Guyanese, for example), never thought of it in a NOLA context. Maybe the creole influence?

Anyway, I'd rather buy Skyy vodka, some mangoes, and write a check to a New Orleans charity with the savings than buy another flavored Absolut abomination.

[redgypsy]

I bought some of this in Dallas a few weeks ago. Made a French 76 per the recommendation of the internet. It was fantastic. I wasn't sure what this combo would taste like but I may have found a new favorite champagne cocktail.

[nolagal]

At which grocery store did you find it? I'm in New Orleans, and I went to the nearest liquor store, and they've been sold out for two weeks and don't know if they'll get any more. :(

[alanstotle]

I saw it in a Vons grocery store in Fresno, California. Vons is owned by the Safeway grocery chain. From what I can tell, they don't have any affiliated stores in the New Orleans area. The nearest-to-you would be a Randall's in Houston, Texas.

[Sacto_Damkier]

I know there was a limited production, so it may be a hot item down there. The best bet would be a liquor store or grocery store with low turnover. Texas does not sell liquor in grocery stores, so the Randall's is out. Some out the outer parishes may have a better stock since NOLA demand is probably very high.

[nolagal]

Good pointers. I think I should have my parents who live in North Texas scout some out for me.

[cor]

My boss gave me one of her husband's bottles. Sorry I can't be of more help!

Have you tried going to Martin's? They have everything.

[cor]

It is actually surprisingly good. I am not a huge fan of mango OR black pepper, but the mix is really interesting. The bars around New Orleans are making all kinds of specialty cocktails with it.

100% of the proceeds go to rebuilding New Orleans, so you should definitely buy a bottle! :)

[Sacto_Damkier]

Is it just me, or does mango & black pepper NOT scream New Orleans?

[alanstotle]

I'm with you on that. But then again, I'm not from New Orleans, so maybe there's some obscure connection I'm not aware of.

I think it's possible to like this vodka regardless of whether it's "New Orleans" or not, but like you I have to wonder why (besides taste) this particular combination of flavors was chosen as iconic of New Orleans. There's the possibility that mango & black pepper is a wild, off-the-wall combination (which New Orleans kinds of is) and that's why it was chosen.

[Mr Lee Ho]

They are only making 35,000 cases so it could be a collectors item. While I'm not a fan of Absolut I would have no issues buying some since money from the sell goes to a good cause.