Last weekend at Mercado Mundo Mix, a market-slash-fair that brings together up-and-coming stores and designers from the underground fashion world mostly in Sao Paulo, I got egged into trying a new super-carbonated and fizzy shot of vodka called Orloff Gas, which is an extension of the Orloff vodka family being pushed by Pernod Ricard Brasil (the same group that has Jameson, Chivas and Courvoisier). After much research on the Brazilian liquor-loving public, this 5-times-distilled sparkling liquor was developed for their penchant for both carbonated drinks and vodka. Vodka is a huge industry here in Brazil; many clubbers often replace the sugar cane rum called cachaca in their capirinha cocktails with it instead. In my taste test I had trouble discerning the bubbles from the actual flavor of vodka, and even on an empty stomach I didn’t feel the usual buzz I usually get from a shot. Well, bottoms up; I found out later it has a low 15% alcohol content. I’ll be sticking with the harder stuff myself, but from the smiles of the eager drinkers around me, Brazilians are liking this new fuel to power their nights out.

Photo via CEFET Campos