Attitude Adjustment
- Tarin Scarbrough
- Fred Lopez
My good friend Dan exclusively drinks two beverages: IPAs and Myers Rum mixed with orange juice. He knows exactly what he wants and doesn’t stray; his order is always predictable. That’s why it shocked me one day when he told me he had discovered something new: Kombucha! Racking my brains, I wonder, how did someone go from being so rigid with their preferred beverage to trying a drink on the complete opposite end of the spectrum? Exploring your order could be just the key you need to embrace change and discover a new level of sipping happiness.
Most people fall into this habit; they know exactly what they like and never deviate from that order because the risk of ordering something new and being disappointed just isn’t worth it. Besides, if it’s so good, why change?
So what was enticing enough to coerce someone like Dan to make the switch? Dan says that he picked up Kombucha because it has a high ABV content, similar to his IPAs. That fact made him curious enough to try. Plus, despite having a fruit base, there is not a sugary finish, which he appreciates. So, in theory, Kombucha is vastly different from what Dan is used to, but it still features his favorite tastes. And now he’s officially a three-beverage guy!
The ability to spot the parallels between what you enjoy and something new is essential to choosing a new drink. Here are a few tips to help you on your drink-changing quest.
Start with food.
The reason wine is so commonly paired with food is that it can elevate the experience in a variety of ways. Red, white, rose, sparkling. Dry, tannic, sweet. Earthy or clean. Citrus or berries. However, let’s say you don’t drink red wine, but you love steak. Or, rather, you do drink red wine, but want to try something different.
It helps to understand why red wine works. When paired with a robust, fatty cut of beef, the deep fruit and acidity of red wine help overcome, or temper, the richness of the meat. Do you know what else would do that? Fruit and acid of any kind … like an infused blueberry or pomegranate mocktail! Or even a shrub soda, like we talked about last month. When tempting someone to step outside their comfort zone, it helps to find a common denominator. In this case, fruit and acid.
It works the same with beer and pizza, the rustic taste of the beer cleansing the savory, saucy slice. If you’re looking to try something you’ve never had, find an entrée that will upgrade the product and will naturally enhance your experience with it.
Get in touch with your tastebuds.
Another friend of mine solely drinks Yuengling, merlot, or malbec. There’s no point in trying to offer him anything else because he simply won’t try it. Which, to me, is the ultimate challenge. So taking what I did know about him—that he’s an avid eater of spicy foods—I casually started talking about this spicy Mango Jalapeño Sour long enough to tempt him into ordering one. Despite his loathing of fruity drinks, he ended up ordering multiple pints just because it was so hot! That’s why if there is something you enjoy, like oranges, it’s easier to consider drinking a “Mimosa IPA” over a regular IPA, as it features a flavor profile you already appreciate.
Follow the flavors you enjoy in your regular life, and they will shine through in the beverages you may be willing to sample. I’m not a huge rum drinker, but if a tiki cocktail has orgeat, or almond syrup, I’m willing to go for it simply because I adore almond flavor. It’s that simple.
Just give it a chance!
The most important decision is to keep your mind open. If you’re at Crooked Can and want to switch up your beer selection, ask for a sample of something you’ve always wanted to try or get a draft flight to try multiple new brews. If you often eat pickles or fermented foods, and sweet vodka drinks repel you, a dirty martini will mimic those flavors you like and help you appreciate a new spirit in a new light. After you get tired of that drink, you can move on to something with even more character, like gin.
Regardless, the most important part is having that willingness to try something new. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but giving yourself the chance to taste something new is the first step to finding your new drink, and perhaps, finding out more about yourself! Cheers!
