opinionated alchemist

I have found some new products, which let me thought over the whole concept of terroir of spirits.

Belvedere released two unique vodkas which are made with rye out of two specific micro-regions. Please check the link, because I won’t run with the typical marketing b.s.
The issue here is: does it make sense or is it total nonsense?
We probably have first to make some important distinction, what means and what influences terroir.








terroir| terˈwär | nounthe complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate. • (also goût de terroir | ɡo͞o də | ) the characteristic taste and flavor imparted to a wine by the environment in which it is produced. ORIGIN French, ‘land’, from medieval Latin terratorium.Terroir (as well as unique sub-varieties) in directly consumed items is a non-brainer. And wine is known to rely on terroir (I am doubting, that terroir is really as important as most people say - it is quite a lot of p…

I am often really annoyed when I see people, making cocktails (blogging about cocktails, etc.).

Look, I love cocktail culture - I believe, that it is worth to be preserved. And I believe, that there has to be respect - because otherwise there won’t be anything to be preserved.

The Mojito is one drink, which gets molested all the time. And people don’t get it: there are drinks, which were consumed in a civilized environment (bars) - by more or less civilized people (at least they are civilized in the setting). And there are peasant drinks. A peasant drink can be great - I don’t judge, which drink is better - but latter is far more adaptable to changes.
Comparing the Mojito versus the Caipirinha is pretty obvious: the Mojito is a bar drink. Very soon after its creation, it has been consumed in Cuba’s most recognized bars - probably by the most famous people at its time.
Against that, the Caipirinha has been a drink of farmers and workers in Brazil.

The difference is a pretty big deal - …

It seems, that the Mai Tai got quite a revival these days. I seen it on quite a lot of menus - unfortunately in the most despicable recipes and ingredients lists.

Let’s first of all state, what the Mai Tai isn’t: the Mai Tai isn’t your typical tiki drink. For sure - it started in a Tiki restaurant - and it has been the creation of one of the two most iconic Tiki fathers - it was either way Don the Beachcomber or Vic “Trader Vic’s” Bergeron.

And while nobody seems to know, who really have been the first who named their cocktail “Mai Tai” - only Trader Vic provided the iconic recipe, which has been copied, simplified and abused.

Look, the Beachcomber recipe is the typical Tiki drink - which is far too strong, uses far too many ingredients - you get the point. No - this isn’t a rant about Tiki drinks...

Trader Vic’s Mai Tai is a combination of great aged funky rum, quality orange liqueur, orgeat and fresh lime - and maybe a hint of hyper concentrated sugar syrup. That’s it. It is a bit …

People who order Martinis which aren’t bone dry probably eat also children.

People who order and drink Martinis which aren’t extra dry, probably have no taste buds.

People... dammit - just don’t drink your Martini cocktail wet!!!


Since a couple of years you hear and read, that XYZ bartender is doing a Martini which has more vermouth in. Sometimes ⅓ vermouth - and now there are even so-named bartenders, which suggest a 50:50 Martini cocktail.

Their arguments sound totally reasonable: the cocktail becomes more sessionable (you can drink more than one or two, without ending up in the alley). And the taste (if the drink is made with proper vermouth) improves... All of it though is rubbish!

Look - this “goals” make not a lot of sense. making the martini cocktail more sessionable or “tasty” is like: making a LaFerrari hypercar more tame and practical... or making a fighter jet more luxurious... or making a Carolina Reaper easier to eat. If you don’t get the context it might sound, reasonable …

I have had Mountain Dew Black Label - which I reviewed here. And to be honest, my fears haven’t really substantiated - it has been quite decent.

Today I tried the second variation- “Green Label” - they say it is “crafted green apple and kiwi” - I have no clue, what they mean with crafted. Well - in this case it just turned out to be as expected: it looks and smells and taste more extreme and artificial as original Mountain Dew.
It is really frog green - more acid green than normal Mountain Dew (and this means something). It is really acidic and really sweet. I could not acknowledge anything of the kiwi - except of the quite typical sourness. It seems to taste more like an energy drink, than a soda - and especially it doesn’t taste like anything craft.
I have previously ranted about the decision of Mountain Dew to exploit the popularity of the relatively small craft soda industry - without even the intention to keep the product craft - and this is just a proof of it. 
This time I am n…

There is surprisingly less “soda variety” in the UAE - given, that a big part of the population doesn’t drink alcohol. The sin tax, which has been introduced in late 2017 didn’t helped the “soda game” (and admittedly I have to teeth-gnashingly agree, that it is a good thing: diabetes and other sugar related diseases are in the raise - especially here); but yet in a country, which isn’t “fueled on beer and wine” there not much to choose from. Sure - there is Pepsi and Coca Cola - and their different flavors and products. But even my loved cherry coke (and strangely enough Pepsi Wild Cherry - I really like it - while I totally reject normal Pepsi) is a rather scare sighting. And yes - there is Canada Dry, Schweppes and Evervess (who needs this??) and occasionally Fevertree...

Being part of the Pepsi-Co empire, Mountain Dew can be found here everywhere. Some specific varieties are though only obtainable in Petrol Stations - and unfortunately unique varieties of any soda (inclusive Cherr…