Rattlesnake Vodka Seized

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission seized an unusual cache of vodka at a rattlesnake farm in Palo Pinto County. The 411 bottles each contained not only vodka, but also a ten-inch rattlesnake! Sgt. Charlie Cloud said he’s never seen anything like it.

TABC officials said alcohol containing snakes or scorpions is popular in Asian cultures. An Internet search found operations selling Thai scorpion vodka, cobra whiskey, giant centipede whiskey, herbal gecko lizard wine and Mekong River eel wine.

“It’s very bizarre,” Cloud said. “We learned that these are believed to contain aphrodisiac properties. We heard that some people believe having a venomous animal creates hallucinations.”

TABC agents received a tip several weeks ago and sent an undercover agent to the rattlesnake ranch to purchase the vodka. It wasn’t on display.

“We had to go in and ask for it,” Cloud said.

Bob Popplewell, the owner of Bayou Bob’s Brazos River Rattlesnake Ranch, is expected to face charges of selling alcohol without a permit. Link -via Arbroath

(image credit: TABC)