Yes. Thanks. I was genuinely curious if anyone at DAR could offer a reasonable explanation for saying the Marines died in a gay way, because the post had received a lot of upvotes. I shouldn't have been surprised by some of the responses, but I wanted to respond because I think some on Saidit speak with the same language as religious fundamentalists, without thinking about the human or associated costs. I should take a break.

I agree regarding Balvenie, which I think was the first to offer a triple cask option, which initially I could only locate in the UK.

I like that vodka seems to go well with any flavoring, or even with coffee. There was a Van Gogh vodka that was mixed with coffee. For what it's worth, here is a list of vodkas I discussed recently with a Ukranian friend, followed by three favorites:

Derevenskaya Samogonka (also called Pervach; Samogon is a derivative)

Golden Lion (can't find this one, but was given the name in English)

Zolotoe runo (English trans: Golden Fleece)

Zolotoye Koltso (Golden Ring) by Kristall

Pshinichnaya

Stolichnaya (must be the original [i.e. not poddelka]), 'Stolichnaya Noch'

Flagman

Flargship

Gzhelka (Cristall) <DM> (popular in Tver, Russia)

Dovgan

Smirnovskaya (not Smirnoff), 'Suharnichek'

Ukrainian Gorilka (red pepper vodka - [not black pepper])

Peisahovka (Jewish, 60% alcohol, sweet flavour)

Perzovka (a pepper vodka)

Saproshin (Topaz factory)

Kutskova

Russky Standart (Russian Standard)

vodka from Arkhangelsk (mellower water used)

vodka from Tverj and Tambov (snow water used)

vodka from Rostov on Don (honey vodka - no headache in the morning)

Grey Gooze

Charka

Istok

Gospoga Oficeri

Red Army

Ikon (no hangovers)

The favorites have been: Derevenskaya Samogonka (also called Pervach), Flagman (#2), Gzhelka (#3), and what we actually drink most often: Grey Gooze.