20080319

An infused vodka with bite

This tale is a combination of Snakes On a Plane and Worm In a Tequila Bottle.

Agents for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission have seized 411 bottles of vodka at Bayou Bob's Brazos River Rattlesnake Ranch. In addition to unlicensed vodka, each bottle also contained a 10-inch rattlesnake, also presumably unlicensed.

Authorities received a tip several weeks ago, according to a story in the Fort Worth-Star Telegram, and sent an agent to buy the vodka, which some people believe takes on aphrodisiac properties with the addition of the snake.

Bob Popplewell, who owns the enterprise, has been in the news before for selling 42,000 turtles overseas as a food delicacy, mostly in Asia.

Whether he has sold any rattlesnake vodka is not known since he wasn't available for an interview this time around, but officials say he can be expected to be charged with the sale of alcohol without a permit and possession of alcohol with the intent to sell.

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

Though the practice might seem distasteful (or perhaps even cruel to snakes) by U.S. standards I've seen Zane Lamprey imbibe similar drinks in foreign countries on "Three Sheets."