Worm or Snake: Which Do You Prefer in Your Liquor?

We all know about the highly alcoholic worm that is stuffed in the bottle of Mescal Tequila that you either love to consume, or avoid it at all costs. If you get freaked out by a worm, what if it was a snake instead of a worm?

Okinawa Awamori or Habu Sake is a liquor that includes a well preserved Habu snake coiled inside it. Habu snakes are a species of venomous snakes that are belong to the pit viper family. A bottle of Habu Sake is very expensive and does come with its' very own snake, however if your looking for a cheaper bottle, you get the venom, but not the snake. Honestly, I don't know what is worse! If you're looking for the expensive bottle, look to be paying over $1,000 for it. Yes, that is the American Currency amount.

So why is there a snake at the bottom of the bottle? Habu snakes are believed to have medicinal purposes. The snake's body has many amino acids that are beneficial to humans.

When the Habu snake is caught, it is placed inside a bottle of 95 percent alcohol and is left to soak for a month then put into a lower percentage alcohol for another month then again moved to another lower alcoholic percentage mixture and mixed with Okinawa herbs.

The Awamori can be found in a range of strengths as well as a sweet and dry mix. Normally, the drink is preferred mixed with water and a lemon.

The distillery that produces this unique liquor uses around 5,000 Habu snakes per year and has been found a very popular purchase for Americans that are living or stationed in Okinawa. The distillery produces Awamori by using crushed rice and black koji mold. Koji is a kind of a mold that has the enzyme to convert starch into sugar. Koji is also used to produce the flavor of the Awamori. Awamori is normally made at 60 proof, however can be found at 120 proof. The longer the Awamoi is aged, the stronger it will get. The venom of course de-venoms in the alcohol.

If Okinawa's Awamori, isn't for you, then you might want to try Snake Wine. Found all across Southeast Asia, and are said to treat rheumatism, lumbago, and other health problems and pain. It's also been known to be a strong aphrodisiac. Snake Wine is made with venomous snakes; the snakes are preserved for their poison. The snakes poison dissolves in the liquor. The more venomous the snake is, the better the wine.

If you are in Southeast Asia, you can also try Snake Blood Wine, which is made by slicing the snake open and mixing it's blood with the rice wine. Some restaurants bring you pure alcohol and cut the snake open right in front of you, pouring the blood into your glass of alcohol.

Along with the said medicinal purposes, those that drink the wines are supposed to feel stronger, however many state that it makes them feel sleepy and that the wine tastes bland and almost flavorless.

All and all, I personally would rather choose to see a worm floating in my drink then a snake in a strike pose staring at me. And I can't even imagine what 120 proof would do to me. I'll take my vodka and orange juice any day.

If any of you out there have ever tried any of the above 'snake' beverages, I would be curious to know your thoughts on it.