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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 31, 2008 17:56:30 GMT 12
Whilst browsing through an old Summer 1987 edition of RNZAF Association News magazine I spotted something that really took me back. I remember this being in the Airmans' Club bar at Woodbourne in 1989 when i was at 4TTS, but cannot recall if I was game enough to try it. If I did, I probably had my memory wiped by it. The article is brief but shows the label from the bottle (the bottle was purple and from memory had skull and crossbones on it)... Here's what was written: POPULAR DRINK?Seen in RNZAF Messes and Armed Forces Canteens on Bases. It sounds terrible but it isn't! [and then it prnted this from the label] PURPLE DEATH
An unusual 'Rough-as-Guts' Wine that has the distinctive boquet of horse-shit and old tram tickets. It is best drunk with the teeth clenched to prevent the ingestion of foreign bodies. Connoiesseurs will savour the slight tannin taste of old tea leaves and burnt cat fur. Possessors of a cultivated palate will admire the initial assault on the taste buds which comes from the careful and loving blending of animal manure and perished jock straps strained through an old miners sock. The maturing in small pigs bladders gives it a definite nose.
Marketed under the Savious Brand (9 out of 10 people who drink it for the first
time exclaim "Jee-esus Chri-i-ist").
Caution keep away from 'naked flames' (both old and new).
BOTTLED BY THE MAD SCIENTIST - JUST FOR FUN
750mls Colour and Flavour Added 18% Alc. by Vol. I'd love to know who actually made this stuff, was it fairly widespread? When i saw it that was the beginning of my drinking career and only really went to the Baggies bar, nowhere else. Also, is it still available? If so, I'd LOVE to get a bottle of it. |
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Post by Brett on Mar 31, 2008 18:18:04 GMT 12
I happen to have a bottle of this 'maturing' in my liquor cabinet. On the label it has "For Sapich Brothers, Forest Hill Road, Henderson, N.Z."
I've had the bottle for over 20 years so it should be getting nice and ripe now.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 31, 2008 18:35:57 GMT 12
Thanks guys. I have just found this www.sapich.co.nz/purpledeath.htmlI might have to get a bottle, it will amuse my mates no end... but you have to order twelve bottles minimum, I don't want that many.  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 31, 2008 19:08:29 GMT 12
I remember that stuff from the 1970s. Used to serve a dual purpose as a very effective antkiller.
From memory, it was sold in the shops as a novelty gift - my sister bought me some once as a birthday present.
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Post by FlyNavy on Mar 31, 2008 19:22:56 GMT 12
"Purple Carribean (with some white Rum and a parrot)". Aarrrggh me hearties! "Please note, the term 'some' implies a certain flexibility." I hope the parrot is deceased. ;D www.sapich.co.nz/purpledeath.html |
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Post by sniff on Mar 31, 2008 19:26:42 GMT 12
[glow=red,2,300]Oh yes!
A marvellous drop, once you are pizzed, and yes, you do "P" purple if you consume enough! (rather like asparagus, but with a visual rather than an olfactory result!) [/glow]
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Post by Kereru on Mar 31, 2008 19:28:25 GMT 12
That does take me back till the early days of working and one of the brothers worked at the same place and one could order either Purple Death or Blackberry Nip! Must have some kind of preserving qualities as it is still going strong! ;D
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Post by sniff on Mar 31, 2008 19:32:27 GMT 12
PD is a blackberry nip, sold out of a shed on Forrest Hill Road.
Many a Fincastle has kept the brothers "afloat" ;D
Best served in a funnel and hose, or through a drenching kit!
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Post by sniff on Mar 31, 2008 19:38:35 GMT 12
Please note, the term 'some' implies a certain flexibility
Russian Jumper: (with some vodka)
American Purple: (with some Bourbon)
Purple Lady: (with some Gin)
Purple Randy: (with some Brandy, a rose and candles)
Purple Carribean: (with some white Rum and a parrot)
Or use for: punch base, ice cream topping, trifles, steak marinade or with fruit juice.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Mar 31, 2008 19:39:12 GMT 12
This brings back memories! Purple Death was very popular in the Airman's and Cpls Clubs in my day. We used to buy it by the flagon at Wigram. I remember one Ohakea Beer Fest in the late 80's where they had it on tap and I drank it by the pint full! I don't remember much after 5pm (the beer fest only started at 3pm!), when my Mrs was called by the DNCO to come and take me home! The AFCC Canteen used to sell it too. It was very popular with visiting Aussie Squadrons from memory. After a session on it your tongue went green and stayed that way for days. For those who haven't tried it - it tasted like a cheap port - very sweet and not at all unpleasant. It had quite a distinctive "nose", not to mention colour!
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Post by sniff on Mar 31, 2008 19:53:26 GMT 12
FN - the parrot is preserved in a suspended state of animat... imitat... inebriation; but not deceased.
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Post by beagle on Mar 31, 2008 20:22:57 GMT 12
brilliant stuff. I like it on top of ice cream ..yummy, but yes have drunk it straight from the bottle and also from the drench gun while on fincastle. There is a sight, a sorry sight to see when crew from a nimrod , after an 8 hour sortie are pushing each other down the stairs first to be drenched, the mess on the ground as each and everyone brings it back up with all the rest of bristish inflight rations. plus I don't think it does much to help the material condition of flight suits etc.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 31, 2008 20:32:19 GMT 12
Wow, these memories of the stuff are great, I'm glad I mentioned it now. Maybe we should get a case or two in for the next forum meet?
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Post by ox on Mar 31, 2008 20:44:15 GMT 12
Wasn't to bad as a marinade for steaks as well - tasted alright although the steaks used to end up green as well.
Meat raffles at Auckland JR's Club before the Cpls got all pouty and went off on their own.
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Post by beagle on Mar 31, 2008 20:52:47 GMT 12
Pretty sure when I was in auckland you could turn up with your own flagons and get them filled.
On the sort of same subject but with a different name, there was stuff called Apple Wheeze or something from a winery near Woodbourne. I remember drinking that stuff in the baggie sbar in the winter in front of the fireplace..........
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Post by camtech on Apr 1, 2008 20:31:57 GMT 12
Ah yes the aroma of the infamous Purple Death. I still have a bottle of that lip smackin' stuff in my liquour cabinet - been there about 30 years now. Good conversation piece for the uneducated civvies!
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Post by beagle on Apr 1, 2008 20:38:49 GMT 12
ya haven't had it till ya been drenched with the gun
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