askchapo

Currently on a kick of non-alcoholic spirits with good tonic. Seedlip is nice. Lyre's Italian orange is too. Going to see if I can find and try Monday Gin as it's apparently more juniper-y but, not holding my breath as it turns out that the flavor compounds in juniper just don't like most human-safe solvents and most non-alcoholic spirits that I've tried don't have nearly enough bitter. May need to go for "very low alcohol" rather than zero for a satisfying character.

Also, I've been enjoying honeybush tea. I'm making blends myself that are turning out rather well. Raspberry leaf helps add tannins that it is missing for a more tea-like flavor and mouth feel. I'm still tuning the recipe but, found that I get a nice Earl-y Grey with 4g honeybush, 1g raspberry leaf, 0.5g lavender flowers (food grade), 2-4 drops bergamot oil (food grade) for a 200-250mL cup.

As for why I'm "teatotalling" these days (not that you asked but the question seems inevitable), ethanol doesn't seem to agree with my nervous system anymore. So, rather than have hang-xiety and other downsides, I've decided to cut it, maybe take up brewing milds again at some point because I enjoy the flavors And caffeine has been getting its effects unpleasantly amplified lately so, same deal, reducing it significantly.