POETICA – Spirits Pairing Lab: gin, liqueurs and cocktails in a culinary setting

At the ŠKMER Academy on Monday, the POETICA – Spirits Pairing Lab tasting was led by Drago Nosić, co-founder of Poetica distillery d.o.o. from Vrgorac. The workshop was meant for hospitality professionals and showed how careful pairing of drinks and food can raise the standard of what a venue offers and win guests over.

Participants tasted the award-winning Poetica gins, the concept liqueurs “Sonate u likerima” and three cocktails put together by Drago Nosić, while masterchef Željko Bremec filled out the evening with food. Marinated beef ribs were cooked in a combination of dark beer and gin, which gave the dish a layered caramelised and herbal aroma. Beef cheeks were cooked slowly, and an infusion of gin added a subtle aromatic freshness that balanced the richness of the dish. The closing roast lamb came with quinoa, and there were also home-made kiflići (crescent rolls), two kinds of crackers and chocolate balls made from several types of chocolate, so the food and the drinks held together as a pairing.

Poetica, known for the most awarded Croatian gin, stands out for the way it approaches production and for its concept liqueurs, and it will soon widen its range to Croatian whiskies and rums from its distillery near Vrgorac. The workshop showed how careful pairing of local products and spirits can be the point that sets a venue apart.