I think I have died and gone to big gay heaven.
Two of my favorite things are coming together just in time for Pride Month: being gay... and vodka.
Absolute Vodka is launching a new bottle called "Absolute Colors" to coincide with the 30 year anniversary of the creation of the rainbow flag as a symbol of the LGBT community. Gilbert Baker, the inventor of the rainbow flag, is helping with the roll-out.
See an interview with him about the history of the rainbow flag after the jump...
I know some people get upset by liquor companies targeting our community, but I have a bit of a different view (and not just because I like their product). Liquor companies were some of the first to advertise with gay community, giving money to our publications and events when no one else would. Now we see just about every type of business focusing on our community, but that wasn't always the case.
Of course I don't want to do anything to increase substance abuse of any kind in our community, but I don't particularly think that this rainbow bottle does that. I find it to be a cute and quirky way for a company to recognize our community. I also like the idea of the rainbow flag creator talking about our history and having a platform on which to do it.
Heck, I say the more rainbows on a store shelf, the better.
(h/t Towleroad)
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Babycakes, I'm one of "those people" who's going to have to disagree with you. While I don't think a rainbow bottle is going to encourage more people to drink, I do think that these companies need to take more responsibility for the addiction that they contribute to with their product. It's a sad statement that increased LGBTQ visibility has been funded by alcohol companies. Of course, I also think it's a pretty sad statement that we affirm our identities at Pride events with gratuitous commercialism. But that's probably because I'm one of those radical, anti-capitalist, dirty hippies.
However, more rainbows = good times. I think we can all agree on that.
Serena Freewomyn | June 14, 2008 3:52 PM
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There's a reason why liquor companies ♥ the gays. They make $.
They were the first to start advertising because we were a large part of their market. While no other businesses would have us, there was always someone to serve up the hooch and make a buck or a million.
Bil Browning | June 15, 2008 12:53 AM
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Waymon, just got one question: is it really possible to tell vodkas apart by taste? I wouldn't know, I prefer Irish or Scotch whiskey, or dark estate rums.
I watched a taste test once (as designated driver), with avowed vodka aficionados, who swore they could tell the difference on tasting. I observed that they couldn't tell Everclear, diluted to 90 proof with tap water, from Absolut, Stolichnaya, Finlandia, Popov, Grey Goose, and Smirnoff. Of course, after the test, they didn't know their names, sexes, or the English Language anymore, either.
Must admit I like the rainbow packaging. I recognize alcoholism is a problem among GLBT people (one topic in which the T definitely belongs with the greater community), but the choice of whether or not to imbibe is one's own.
Polar | June 15, 2008 4:19 AM
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And now, you can be pridefully Absolutly over served.
My questions, because we get charged so much for anything gay, is this vodka being sold at regular retail price at your local ABC liquor, or is it considered to be something they can charge more for because it contributes to Gay charity or my upcoming liver transplant?
Will this be sold or given to legislators in Tallahassee with the instructions to drink it or sit on it?
Polar, set up the still, we are going to get in to the "corn squeezing" business.
Robert Ganshorn | June 15, 2008 7:45 AM
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Polar- I don't "taste" the difference in vodka as much as feel the "bite". Some go down smoother than others and mix better than others. That's the big difference to me.
And RG, I'm pretty sure the pricing is the same for the "Pride" bottle as other bottles, but I do like the idea of you and Polar setting up a moonshine buisness... I'll be the taste-tester. See? I do lots of things to help the community... :)
Waymon Hudson | June 15, 2008 10:44 AM
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