THE TORD BOYAUX

Located in the old town in Grenoble, the district of Notre Dame in an inevitable place for the student night life. There are many pubs with their multiple atmospheres. One of them has been being my favorite for 4 years: Le tord boyaux ! 

This name can afraid you, I understand. It means “Rotgut”. You can imagine yourself with your twisted intestines because you drank too much alcohol… It’s not a very pleasant image of your crazy night! Don’t worry; Le Tord Boyaux is just a pub…and a very good one, my favorite!

First of all, I have to admit it, because of the smell inside the pub: when you go into the bar, you can smell this delicious aroma of wools, barrels and flavored alcohol! It’s creates, according to me, a particular atmosphere specific to Le Tord Boyaux. 

Then, when you have enjoyed this smell, you can go directly to the counter to choose your drink: and this is the most difficult part of your night! Why, you may ask? Because there are too many choices! You have to know that the specialty of this bar is the flavored wine: more than 43 flavors are available in big wooden barrels. You can choose a bottle for 12 euros and drink it with your friends. There are the different flavors: 

PINEAPPLE
BANANA-BLACKCURRANT
BLACKCURRANT
SWEET CHESTNUT
CHARTREUSE
STRAWBERRY
RASPBERRY
RASPBERRY-LYCHEE
GENEPI-LEMON
GENEPI-STRAWBERRY
MORELLO CHERRY
GINGER-LYCHEE
GUAVA
LYCHEE
MANDARIN
MANGO
MANGO-HOT PEPPER
MELON
MELON-STRAWBERRY
CHERRY PLUM
BLACKBERRY
BLACKBERRY-PASSION

BLUEBERRY
NECTARINE
NECTARINE-KIWI
PASSION
PEACH
PEACH - APRICOT
HEADED - CINNAMON
HEADED KIWI
HEADED RED-COCONUT
HEADED GREEN
PERRY
VERBENA
VIOLET
BARBAPAPA
SALTED BUTTER FUDGE
AFTER-PARTY EIGHT
CURRANT
RED BERRIES
BLUE PTITE PILLULE
PISTACHIO NUT

Then? You see? This is why it’s so difficult to choose. So, you have to come every night during 3 or 4 years (as I did) to taste one of each. 

Of course, if you don’t really like this type of wine, you can drink many others alcohols and cocktails: during the “happy hours” (from 6.00 PM to 8.00 PM every night), the pint costs only 3 euros ! You can even add a syrup inside (if you don’t want to be drunk too early !) for 3.50 euros ! 

If you don’t want to drink alcohol, if you are “Sam”, the one who drives and takes his friends back home with the car (good boy !), or if you don’t like alcohol (does it really exist ?!), of course you can drink some non-alcoholic drink such as cocktails with fruits juice and sodas. 

Moreover, when you drink, you are hungry. So, Le Tord Boyaux suggests some snacks, such as chips, peanuts, cheese with cumin (my favorite) and the inevitable “French saucisson”. 

Ok, now you are spending a good night. You are with your best friends; you drink a very good cheap flavored wine, in a very good atmosphere…

Then you can enjoy the music! Of course the music is essential in a pub! Le Tord Boyaux  broadcasts some very good songs, particularly old songs such as the 1990’s songs ! I love it ! You can lapse into a second childhood and dance on Lorie, Manau, The Spice Girls, K-Maro, even Louise Attaque and Indochine ! 

My little advice: favor the Tuesday nights, because Le Tord Boyaux organize “the Blind test”. You are in a team (you can choose your team name, according to the quantity of alcohol you drank, sometimes there are some very ridiculous names!), there are 4 or 5 parts, with different themes, and you have to guess the name of the song, and the singer or the band of the music you are listening to. Everybody hears the same song. You have few minutes to guess, and there is the next song. The winning team wins free drinks, so it’s worth it !!!

If you want to have a little break in this deafening atmosphere, you can go to the smoking room, have a fag and speak quietly with your friends… before going back to the counter and having another drink, of course ! 

So, how does it sound? Did I convince you? 

Trust me, you won’t be disappointed ;)

Your devoted Juliette