I decided to conduct two quick experiments tonight with genever and arrack, the two predecessor-liquors of gin and rum, respectively. I can report inconclusive results.
Genever and Tonic (Dutch pronunciation: yeh-NAY-vuhr; English, jin-EE-ver) was an interesting and worthwhile take on the venerable gin and tonic. Genever is sightly sweeter than your typical dry gin, but loses none of the aromatic complexity of gin, and since it's aged gently on oak, picks up a gentle woodiness that makes the drink a nice crossover for whiskey drinkers. I'll continue to enjoy my regular gin and tonics, but make one of these for those who have a self-proclaimed ambivalence for gin, and see if I can't win a few converts.
Merdeka (Indonesian for "Freedom") is my name for a Cuba Libre made with Arrack Batavia. I'm actually a little disappointed; this spirit is clearly better suited for mixing with something less assertively vanilla-y. Mixed with cola, the subtle vegetal profile of the arrack is drowned out, making the Merdeka virtually indistinguishable from a Cuba Libre made with an un-aged, white rum.
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