Goomba wrote to Sycophant:

>>> Your $11 bottle IS the cheap stuff... you mostly paid for the pretty
>>> glass bottle. True Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale will cost you $100
>>> and up.
>>>
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balsamic_vinegar
>>>
>>> http://www.ilmercatoitaliano.net/Sho...al-Balsamic-Vi
>>> negar-of-Modena?gclid=COX1obWoh6UCFU465QodUleQOw
>>
>> And the imagined difference is probably about the same I found in rather
>> nasty $150.00 per bottle Champagne vs. some $13.00 per bottle stuff that
>> actually tasted good...
>>
>> I really do think that the "snob" value in high priced fermented products
>> is just that.
>
> So I'm pretty confident that you've never enjoyed the rich, deep flavor of
> thick, aged balsamic vinegar. I've got a small bottle that I dole out by
> the drop and its *nothing* like the cheap thin stuff. That you don't
> appreciate or recognize the difference in the two hardly means it is
> "imagined". Same goes for Champagne and your preferred bubbly Kool-Aid.

The way I read it, Sycophant *did* recognize the difference. She just didn't
like the good stuff. When it comes to champagne, I'm the same way: The good
stuff tastes like soap to me. It doesn't bother me that I don't appreciate
this wonderful stuff which others pay huge sums to acquire; I rather like my
plebian tastes.

Balsamic vinegar is a completely different story, though. Balsamico
tradizionale is something I am willing to pay dearly for.

Bob