About the Drink: (parentheses) is a vinegar-based botanical beverage duo created by sober entrepreneurs, Tawny Lara (author) and Nick Mechak (former sommelier). before prepares your palate for a meal while after calms the mind and senses. Our bold botanical spirit made from organic seaweed. Co-founder Nick ferments the seaweed into vinegar, and then we add our signature botanical blend. (before) is great with tonic or in a spritz while (after) is excellent topped with ginger beer or as a whiskey substitute in a mint julep
(before) is designed to elevate the senses, make your mouth water, and to get ready for a nice meal (or something else). Featured herbs include gentian, ashwagandha, and prickly ash with complimentary notes of cardamom, citrus, and rose.
Take a deep breath and enjoy this botanical beverage. The herbs in this drink have been traditionally used to stimulate the senses or prepare one's palate for a meal. Enjoy neat, with your favorite tincture, over ice, with a splash of soda, or in a cocktail. Great with salty snacks, fried appetizers, mild cheese, and more. Sip slowly and mindfully.
Ingredients: Water, organic kelp vinegar, organic cane sugar, potassium sorbate (preservative), extracts of the following: organic orange peel, organic grapefruit peel, organic spilanthes, prickly ash, organic rosebud, sichuan peppercorns, organic gentian, organic ashwagandha, organic cardamom
Tasting Notes
● Sugar Kelp brings a hint of sweetness, vegetal flavors, and very slight brininess. This type of kelp tastes more like the bay than the ocean, also adding slight earthen notes. The kelp also adds a bit of body to the drink calming down the bright acidity.
● The orange and grapefruit peels add citrus notes without adding more acidity, along with more bitterness.
● The gentian, prickly ash, and ashwagandha are there for the balancing and uplifting qualities, along with their complex bitter and woodsy notes. Prickly ash also adds a slight mouth-watering effect.
● Green Sichuan (the non-spicy Sichuan!) adds floral, citrusy brightness and a slight mouth-watering effect.
● Spilanthes adds a green-tea flavor (no caffeine) and a slight mouth-watering effect.
● Rose adds a subtle floral note.
● Cardamom adds an exotic and nutty spice note