Gusto Organic - Fiery Ginger with Chipotle (and agave)

taste profile: the smell does not mess around - it’s dominated by sharp, fresh ginger, along with something botanical. the smell is sweet towards the end and I’m absolutely terrified of what i am about to drink. the taste is dominated by full bodied, complex, refreshing ginger. “botanical” describes this drink really well in fact - the burn of the ginger lingers on and on at the back of your throat, but its initial kick is offset by a much more complex sweetness. this, by the way, is not overly sweet and the chipotle is barely noticeable in the aftertaste, but is present as you start experiencing this avalanche of sensations. i would not prefer this otherwise - if i could taste the chillies more, it would probably be too much and the taste would lose focus. in brief - the “backbone” of the drink is the ginger, which is carried by the taste of sugar and agave all the way through the journey; as the taste evolves, one feels ripples of chipotle. the aftertaste, as mentioned, lingers and the burn is complex: chipotle for the nose, ginger for the throat. moreover, this is ever so slightly carbonated, but the spiciness makes it easy to overlook that.

rating: 8.5/10. very complex, very interesting, but equally niche. how and when would you enjoy this? would it work well diluted with water? would seltzer add another dimension of taste? maybe one dimension too much? i don’t know. but this drink is an incredible experience, unlike anything i have tasted before.