Drinking Vinegar Taste Test, Part 2

To get caught up on our drinking vinegar tasting, be sure to read Part One.

The friends who volunteered to taste the vinegars had never had a drinking vinegar before. They were all a bit apprehensive but up for an adventure. My friend, John Waller,  mentioned that his mom used to make him drink apple cider vinegar when he was getting a cold. Most were expecting the sharp, sour tang of vinegar. I can't say that people were all that excited to taste the vinegars... what good friends I have!


After a quick drinking vinegar history and letting everyone examine the bottles, I whipped up our tastings.

I diluted the vinegars 4 to 1, about 1/2 cup of the drinking vinegar to 2 cups water. Being very fancy and trying to keep things a little bit "blind", I used measuring cups and had Justin bring each one out. We called them sample A, B, and C. The guests didn't know which was which. I recorded comments while everyone tasted the samples.


Each person was given a small sample, one at a time. Below are the notes on each tasting. Overall I think everyone was really pleased with how the drinking vinegars tasted.

A (Apple Good Health Vinegar)

Observations: 

Darkest in color

Thicker vinegar (straight from the bottle)

Strongest apple scent

Comments:

"Really good and refreshing, strong apple presence"

"Better than expected, not sour, no bitterness"

"Hint of apple, but no bitterness"

"Sweeter than expected"

"Very light and refreshing"

"Tangy with a touch of honey"

and my favorite: 

"Hey, it is good!?"

B (Pok Pok's Apple Som Vinegar)

Observations: 

light in color

clear

very strong vinegar smell

Comments:

"not as strong as I expected"

"lighter flavor and sweetness"

"delicate"

"not as juicy"

"spicy, sweet and a little nutty"

"flatter flavor than the first tasting"

"more refined"

C: My homemade drinking vinegar

Observations:

Hardly any or no smell - apple or vinegar

Cloudy

Dull color

Comments:

"least overall flavor, the apple doesn't shine through"

"almost like a neutral water with a little tartness"

"less complex, but delicate"

"more summery because it is more refreshing"

"dry, with a tanin, and a vinegar after taste"

"in between the other two in terms of sweetness"

After the tasting we tallied up our votes - which did they think they would buy and drink again, A,B, or C?

AND THE WINNER???

Pok Pok's Som was the winner!!!
But.....when I showed the price differences between Som and the Good Health, the two store bought bottles became tied. 

This was a fun evening and I am really grateful that my friends were good sports about being taste testers. And, I clearly need to rework my recipe :) I think I will try it again with some honey :) 

So, tell me, have you tasted either of these brands? Or another one I should track down? What is your thoughts on store bought drinking vinegars?