40 0,5

Uzbekistan

what is this one called?

[40%, sampled in Uzbekistan]

Goddamnit, I have no clue how to write the name of this vodka. 40 0,5? Сорок Ноль Пять? Forty Zero Five? I think the name comes from the vodka being 40% alcohol in a 0,5 liter bottle. But I am still confused.

Yet here I am, listening to a Chinese song called “Zebra, Zebra” (斑马,斑马) by Song Dongye (宋冬野). It’s absolutely beautiful, and what’s even better: there is a cover version by The Landlord’s Cat (房东的猫), which might be even better. Or maybe it isn’t. Maybe Song Dongye’s version is still the best. I am torn.

Anyway, let’s talk about this unutterable vodka.

should have asked in the shop

I got this in a liquor store in Tashkent, and while it wasn’t exactly cheap for Uzbek standards, it was still very affordable overall. I paid the equivalent of about 5€ for 500ml of 40 0,5. In hindsight I should have asked the clerks what this stuff was actually called.

The bottle looks nice. It reminds me of Absolut, Mama, or Rutte – a clean design that focuses heavily on a large font. I quite like the big red 40 0,5 label.

40 0,5 is slightly sweet

There was a faint smell that was a bit sweet. The taste was pleasant, emulating the sweetness of the smell, and like any good vodka, 40 0,5 went down easily. Vodka means “little water”, so it shouldn’t burn excessively when you drink it. This stuff was good in that regard.

The aftertaste wasn’t bad, either. It was mild, not overly aromatic, but it made for a nice warm feeling.

Overall, this 40 0,5 vodka (whose name I still don’t know) is pretty good.