A close friend of mine loves to tell a story about how he once drank cobra sake in Thailand, or something to that effect. A little research into his story has revealed an amazing world of reptile-infused spirits that will surely revolt you in ways you never thought possible.
The practice of placing deadly snakes in bottles of rice wine is thought to have originated in Vietnam, and has since spread throughout South Asia. The wine is typically drunk in small shots, and is believed to have medicinal qualities.
You can't get the stuff here in America, mostly because many of the snakes you see here are endangered species, and their import is illegal in the U.S.
The idea is to let their venom dissolve into the wine, providing a thrilling additive to what was surely a much more boring imbibe of cheap rice wine. But don't believe the hype. The venom loses its effects as it is absorbed. The ethanol in the wine denatures and unfolds the proteins within the poison, rendering it harmless.
If you've ever smelled a large snake, you may be aware that they emit an odd odor, known as musk. This musk comes from glands that are located beneath the snakes scales, and probably plays a roll in mating or territory marking. I'm fairly certain that this musk would also be absorbed into the wine, making it taste like death. Gross, snakey death.
According to my friend Steve, this is the most horrifying stuff you could possibly ever drink.
I don't think we'll be serving this at the bar anytime soon.
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