Mongolia | Zaisan Tolgoi | Second Nine-Nine | Khorz Arkhi Khöldönö

I mentioned earlier that the First of the Nine-Nines—the Nine-Nines being nine periods of nine days each, each period characterized by a certain type of winter weather—started on the day of the Winter Solstice, which occurred here in Mongolia on December 21. The second of the Nine-Nines begins today, December 30.  Known as Khorz Arkhi Khöldönö, this is the time when twice-distilled homemade Mongolian arkhi (vodka) freezes. As you will recall, the first of the Nine-Nines was the time when regular, or once distilled, arkhi freezes. As this indicates, the second period should be colder than the first, since twice-distilled arkhi obviously has a much higher alcohol content. This morning at 2:00 it was  —28°F. This may be cold enough to freeze twice-distilled arkhi. The forecast for the night of December 30-31, however, calls for a relatively balmy —11ºF, probably not cold enough to freeze twice-distilled arkhi. The third Nine-Nine begins on January 9.