opinionated alchemist

I came across quite a lot of products. Many of those have a good reputation, however you should maybe not watch too closely. When it comes to tonic water, it seems that this game is at its best. There are the traditional products- 'traditionally' using a lot of artificial and highly processed stuff. Yes I look at you, Schweppes and Canadian Dry!  And there is the 'artisan stuff' like Fevertree and Q-tonic. There are also the wannabes like Thomas Henry - which is really very much like the traditional stuff dressed in new cloths. And.... there is Fentiman's. Let's make not a secret out of it: the traditional stuff is not as bad (in taste) as most craft bartenders would like to see them. And the artisan stuff is not as good as everyone hopes. And the wannabes are... well not as good as the disappointing artisan stuff but definitely as good as the traditional stuff (but more expensive).  But what is about Fentiman's? You can't make a joke about- The guys of ...

Interesting new spirits are unfortunately not often seen in the Middle East. That's why I was pretty excited, when Carlos, the brand ambassador of Gin Mare told me, that his product has landed and was already in use in a couple of bars. He sent me a bottle over [that took quite a while, as the respective supplier wasn't really aware of this new small volume product. But when I had it in my hands, I was quite happy. The bottle is really beautiful. It definitely looks distinctively different than any other gin [or vodka] - modern, but not futuristic - just strikingly beautiful. This is, what Gin Mare offers as marketing message: Mediterranean botanicals - like rosemary, thyme and olives? Interesting. Individual distillation of the specific infused neutral spirit? Controversial - but still intriguing. But how are my impressions? Eye: I know - gin is translucent, but the viscosity is appealing- there are directly very thin and fast legs running do...