Before Flannista's birthday month ends, she would like to share nowayasista's birthday gift to her -- something he dragged all the way back from Europe: a 3-pack of Underberg.
UnderWHAT?!
After extensive research, Flann learned that Underberg is a digestive aid. The German single-serving of 20 ml (just over a half ounce) bottles wrapped in brown paper are meant to be downed in one shot after a heavy meal to make it easier to digest your food. The flavor is supposedly (Flann hasn't tried one yet) herbal: a combination of cloves, cinnamon, mint, eucalyptus and . . . it's 88 proof -- 44 percent alcohol.
Here's a sophisticated description of Underberg from Peter Meehan in the New York Times Style magazine:
The aftertaste lingers, present but not overwhelming, as a coating of nonspecific but blatantly medicinal herbal flavors slowly suffuses from the throat to the lungs and eyes. Relief is immediate.
Then there’s the Underberg bottle, with its octagonal neck and natural paper printed with textured and lustrously glossy ink. The green cap is printed with a red crest, one of a number of symbols and signatures of the brand that give it the lure of a secret Masonic society beverage, not a Spuds MacKenzie-worthy party one.
Flann has to wonder what noway thinks about Underberg being perceived as part of "a secret Masonic society beverage". Should a cowpoke drink Underberg? Should you? Click here to watch an early Underberg commercial to help you decide.
Do you suppose Underberg works if a conversation with a friend gives you indigestion?
Posted by: Flannista | June 28, 2012 at 05:56 AM
Flann, you mention nothing about the image on the box. Is it a fairy flying up into the sky dispensing fairy dust? Or perhaps a virgin? Please provide details.
Posted by: Matissta | June 28, 2012 at 07:26 AM
BTW, the angle and closeness of the image makes the bottles look like full-size beer bottles. Smart marketing when you're trying to sell to Germans.
Posted by: Matissta | June 28, 2012 at 07:31 AM
Could be reason masonic membership is on decline. This was too special for me to drink. I only passed it on to friends who would appreciate its unique character. Or who are unique characters.
Rumor has it that the Germans are now sending truckloads of the stuff to Greece and other Euro nations to better digest reality.
Posted by: nowayasista | June 28, 2012 at 08:54 AM
Matissta -- I noticed that fairy on the box, too. I'll do some more research, but I've gotta tell ya that there's a lot of secrecy around Underberg. Here's what Wiki says:
*****
It is based on a secret and proprietary recipe, guarded by the Underberg family since the company was founded by Hubert Underberg-Albrecht in 1846. The herbs are distilled using a secret process denominated semper idem (or "always the same"). The extracts are then matured for many months in barrels made of Slovenian oak.
Production ceased in 1939 due to lack of raw materials, only to be restarted in December 1949. The drink is usually associated with its famous portion-sized 20 ml bottle, designed in 1949 by Emil Underberg, grandson of the founder. The mini-bottle is protected by a straw paper sleeve and the embossed Underberg label is glued on. All of its elements, including shape of the bottle, colour, packaging and the Underberg name are trade marked and copyrighted. The company has successfully defended its rights in over 1,200 court cases against other manufacturers.
*****
So weird!
Posted by: Flannista | June 28, 2012 at 09:19 AM
And yet, so intriguing!
Posted by: Matissta | June 28, 2012 at 09:35 AM
noway, I LOVE your comment. Probably we should ALL be drinking the stuff to help us digest reality!
Posted by: PEACEsista | June 28, 2012 at 09:59 AM
BREAKING NEWS SASS!
Justices, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas and Alito probably need some Underberg about now.
What a great day for this country and the Supreme Court. A conservative Chief Justice wrote the MAJORITY opinion to uphold the Health Care Law. I'm so happy for millions of Americans who were worried that they wouldn't be able to continue chemotherapy, etc. because they couldn't afford health care.
It's been fascinating to channel surf. The headline on FOX NEWS was about the ONE SMALL thing that the Supreme Court struck down -- extending Medicaid. FOX just couldn't bring itself to post the real news headline.
Posted by: Flannista | June 28, 2012 at 10:26 AM
I've had a few bottles of Underberg by now, and it tastes like licorice with just a hint of digestion fairy...delicious.
Posted by: Peter | June 28, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Peter -- does it really help with indigestion? Matissta and I normally drink sambuca after a big meal. I have three tiny bottles of Underberg and only want to take it when I need it.
Is it an aperitif or a medicine?
Posted by: Flannista | June 28, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Just read this in the New York Times about the health care ruling:
"Many conservatives considered the mandate unconstitutional, arguing that if the federal government could compel people to buy health insurance, it could compel them to buy almost anything, with broccoli becoming the central example in court arguments."
What's the matter with broccoli? I love broccoli. It's good for you.
Posted by: Flannista | June 28, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Someone mentioned to me that car insurance is mandatory. What's the difference? Is it because the state decides what's required?
The one thing that really stands out for me is that people with pre-existing conditions can't be denied health care anymore. That's big for people in that group.
Also, in 2014, you'll be able to buy into a state plan. I would think that would be cheaper for most.
Posted by: Matissta | June 28, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Mattis: the car insurance argument doesn't work because you don't have to have a car but anyway, I say, SPIKE THE FOOTBALL! (which is what Gruff is doing right now with his buddies at the gym). I haven't read the decision yet but the expansion of medicaid is still alive and well, the feds just can't take away all medicaid if the state doesn't expand. The interesting thing is to see how things will adjust around the decision. Will the Republicans work on the tweaks to the bill that will be necessary? Once things settle down what I think will be fascinating is the preventive care that will now be offered to those who formerly didn't have insurance.
Flann: you are mandated to eat beets! (with a little garlic and orange juice and olive oil-baked for 1 hour).
Posted by: Justista | June 28, 2012 at 12:04 PM
Is it an aperitif or a medicine?
Definitely an aperitif. I like the taste, but like most after dinner drinks, including sambuca, it is a taste you will either like or hate. Few remain neutral.
Glad to hear the news from the Supreme Court today. I heard it first here on Sassistas! ... my preferred news source!
Posted by: PEACEsista | June 28, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Matiss -- you know all those beets in your frig from CSA? Should we prepare them a la Justista's 12:04 comment?
Thanks, PEACE, for making Sassistas! your preferred news source!
Posted by: Flannista | June 28, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Based on the commercial alone, I would buy and try the stuff!
Posted by: babysis | June 28, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Are you kidding me, babysis?! That commercial was weird and wild.
noway tells me that when I visit in September, he'll give me more. I'll also try to stuff a bottle into my toiletries plastic bag the next time I fly to MouseLand so you can try it (if I haven't finished all three bottles by then).
Posted by: Flannista | June 28, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Mattis and Flann: peel and quarter the beets, quarter about six cloves of garlic, add some chopped fresh thyme and toss with some olive oil. Place in a baking dish and add 1/4 cup or so of diluted orange juice. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 400 for about 50 minutes, uncover and bake for 10.
Yummmm. Makes your pee pink though
Posted by: Justista | June 28, 2012 at 01:32 PM
Got it, Justista.
Hey everyone -- wish me luck. Have another pro bono meeting with that new client this afternoon. Also, the head of one of TRM's companies LOVED the initial creative I developed for him the week before SILVERDOCS . . . it's great to get affirmation like this.
I'll toast myself later with some Underberg.
Posted by: Flannista | June 28, 2012 at 01:43 PM
I'm with babesis. The advertising makes me want to take a slug of the stuff.
Posted by: Sista C | June 28, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Hello, everyone. We're settled in for the night. Today was mostly a driving day, but we did get a couple of stops in:
The Kaskasia Dragon in Vandalia, Illinois... yes, a fire-breathing dragon. All it takes is a token you can buy at the liquor store across the street to make the dragon breathe propane induced fire.
http://www.kaskaskiadragon.com/images/homepictures.png
Then... I was SO EXCITED... we stopped at the World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois. My sister was VERY excited about this one!
http://www.catsupbottlefestival.com/images/catsupintheclouds.jpg
And we had a picnic lunch on the mighty Mississippi. Then we hauled arses to get to Topeka, Kansas.
Tomorrow we head across the Great Prairie.
Glad to hear about the professional affirmations you are receiving, Flann.
Justista, was thinking of you when I heard the Supreme Court decision today. It blew me away, frankly. I thought - feared - they were going to strike down far more than they did.
Off to bed. Will catch up with you all soon.
Posted by: treesta | June 28, 2012 at 11:44 PM
You'll need to really Super Size the fries, treesta, in Collinsville, IL.
Posted by: Flannista | June 29, 2012 at 06:06 AM