20/20 (often called by its nickname Mad Dog) is an American fortified wine. The MD actually stands for its producer: Mogen David. MD 20/20 has an alcohol content that varies by flavor from 13% to 18%. Originally, 20/20 stood for 20 oz at 20% alcohol.
The MD stands for its producer, Mogen David; however, it has widely known as “Mad Dog.” Originally, 20/20 stood for 20 oz & 20% alcohol. Currently, MD 20/20 is not sold in 20 oz bottles nor at 20% alcohol by volume. This Red Grape is an American fortified wine bottled at 13% alcohol by volume. It has blended to create a tasty cocktail. It is best to serve chilled. Enjoy! Share
MD 20/20 Red Grape Flavored Fortified Wine (also known as “Mogen David 20/20 Red Grape Wine” and “Mad Dog 20/20 Red Grape Wine”) is the king of grape with rich flavors of dark fruit. It has made with juicy, luscious fruit infused with tasty flavors to create a unique variety of MD 20/20 selections. Its an incredibly smooth, delicious delight with the perfect balance of sweetness and a hint of tartness.
Owned and made by a New York based wine company, the MD refers to the company name, Mogen David rather than the commonly perceived Mad Dog.
For most of us, MD 20/20 has (and always will be) known as Mad Dog 20/20. But it has recently been revealed by a picture doing the rounds online that the MD stands for something that few people expected.
Although MD 20/20 has been enjoyed in Scotland for years, it is not as fondly known or remembered in its home country of America and is often referred to as bum wine, a term used to describe any fortified, high alcohol, low cost drink.
Is MD 20/20 a disaster in a bottle or a great way to get buzzed on the run? Only one way to find out.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__drinks.seriouseats.com__s__20110707md2020-397dca95b78d4e46893a0ac908132810.jpg)
After a month of suffering through the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authoritys cavalcade of incompetence, Bottom Shelf research coordinator Emily announced last Thursday that shed finally had enough of her 45-minute, 3-mile subway commute. I figured this meant one of two things: Shed either landed her dream job as a cookie-dispenser at Formaggio Kitchen, or shed wised up to the fact that work is for suckers and was joining me in early retirement. I was OK with the cookie scenario, because most of the pay cut could be recouped with employee discounts on coffee and fancy ham, but I was a little less sanguine about the retirement option. Though Im getting pretty cocky about the basil forest Ive managed to grow on the balcony, its still a couple growing seasons away from cash crop status. For the time being, the lady needs a paycheck.
Lucky for me and whoevers in charge of Formaggios pork profits, Emily settled upon a third option. She now uses her bike—for years a hallway ornament prized exclusively for its redness and its shininess—to get to work in 15 minutes. This impressive decision actually saves us money, too. I have no idea what a subway pass goes for these days (this apartments bigger than our last couple, but I still dont need public transit to commute twixt fridge and couch) but its got to be more than the price of a bike ride.
So, crisis averted. I dont need to get an actual job or go hobo. This is of course a relief, but since Im an optimist and a problem-solver, I did spend a few terrified minutes trying to imagine what my life would be like if Emily did indeed stop working. I quickly discarded the Will-gets-an-honest-job fantasy and focused instead on how Id pay my tab without a steady income or a fermented-sugar mama.
I do actually take in the occasional dollar of my own, so Im pretty sure Id manage to hold onto the apartment, and I could live on oatmeal, English muffin pizzas (store brand), and basil. After paying all the essential bills—goodbye, cable; hello, neighbors unsecured WiFi—I think I could scrounge up enough for, oh, $3.99 a day worth of booze. Thats a pretty comfortable sum, as I could get by happily on a daily sixer from Trader Joes. And I could mix it up a little every now and then and go with a can of Crunk Juce and a nip of whatevers in the discount fishbowl by the register. Or even skip the sauce for a couple days and treat myself to a bottle of Old Crow on the third. The possibilities are endless! Well, no. The possibilities are those; plus a few terrible ones including sobriety, crime, and vodka; plus MD 20/20.
“MD 20/20 is actually wine! Kinda.”
MD 20/20 was at the vanguard of the bum wine industry that dominated the low-price, high-octane fruit juice market for decades until the premium malt beverage movement began to take hold in this century. MD (for Mogen David, the producer) and its peers such as Night Train and Thunderbird have receded in recent years due the marketing muscle of PMBs such as Four Loko and Crunk Juce, which is a shame, because MD 20/20 is actually wine! Kinda. The label calls it “grape wine with citrus spirits, natural flavorings, and certified color.” Citrus spirits? Is that like the ghosts of dead lemons, or do they mean spirits-spirits, like distilled alcohol? If its the latter, then I think its safe to call MD 20/20 wino sangria. Deluxe!
There are several flavors available, and I went with the three coolest-colored ones that I didnt remember from high school. Banana Red and Strawberry Kiwi didnt do me right back then; I hoped Blue Raspberry, Dragon Fruit, and Kiwi-Lemon are more my speed.
Blue Raspberry: This slick new trick replaces the hideous Hawaiian Blue of my youth. Its aimed at the more ostentatious Mad Dog drinker: The color is garish even by industry standards, and the label features a thick gold chain supporting a “BLING BLING” medallion. I dont mind the color, as it is, after all, certified, but the two-bling part made me nervous. My fears were unfounded, though, because if this is what bling tastes like, then I want to eat Lil Wayne for lunch. Its pleasingly fake-grapey (I didnt notice much by way of raspberry, blue or otherwise) and neither harsh nor cloying. That balance is a thing of rare beauty in this category.
Kiwi-Lemon: The Kiwi Strawberry of yore was terrible, but this new kiwid bottling really shines. It looks and smells like green Gatorade, but thank heavens it doesnt taste like it. The lemon is pronounced and comes across as borderline real, and while this is a stagger below the Blue Raspberry, its plenty fine. The only drawback is the slightly cottony mouthfeel, presumably from the kiwi skin.
Dragon Fruit: The fire-breathing dragon on the label gave me medium-high hopes, but alas, this was the worst dog in this pretty good show. Ive never had actual dragon meat, so I cant say if this is an authentic reproduction, but it tastes funky and slightly spoiled. Its still fairly smooth and I wouldnt turn a bottle down, but neither would I pay to pick one up.
All in all, MD 20/20 is better than I remembered it being, and it is now my recommended way to get buzzed on the run. At $3.99 per 750ml bottle, it costs a bit more than most PMBs, but it tastes much better and comes with an all-important resealable screw cap. The next time youre caught between paychecks and drinking out of your backpack, theres no need to surrender your palate and your dignity to the insidious flavored beers that have recently rushed the bum wine show. Grab an MD 20/20 and live to surrender another day.
FAQ
Which MD 2020 has the most alcohol?
