There's a survey making the rounds of the Twittersphere asking if Purple Death might be the worst wine ever made. I think that's a tad harsh. Back when I was a teenager, and it was all I could afford that actually had any alcoholic strength, I thought it was pretty tasty.
Long before the internet came along offering all sorts of recipes detailing how you could mix Purple Death with other things to disguise its taste, I simply used my leftover change to buy a big bottle of Schweppes lemonade. Nice.
But soon the bright lights of Blenheimer and Blue Nun took over and it was all over for Purple Death. It disappeared from the shelves of the shops I frequented and became a misty, slightly seedy memory. No more the odd, squint-inducing combo of blackcurrant, cough medicine, sweaty feet and liquorice for me.
That was until this Twitter thing got fingertips fluttering on computer keys and lo! Purple Death is actually still being made by the Sapich Brothers out in Henderson, West Auckland (no surprises there), and it's only fifteen bucks a bottle. I still chuckle over the label, "it is best drunk with teeth clenched to avoid foreign bodies". So, if you're stuck for a classy present for your nearest and dearest this Christmas I think I may've just solved your problem. www.sapich.co.nz