Magazine: Magic spot?

The ‘world of drinks’ keeps rediscovering soapstone from time to time, as every fifth year an enterprise appears on the market with ‘ice cubes’ made from this material.

Now it is a Vermont company that cuts soapstone cubes, which have to be put in the freezer and in the whisky they offer a real on the rocks experience, cooling the drink without watering it down. Magic wand? A new tool for the bartenders of the most elegant US bars: a Japanese invention, a mixing rod made from white charcoal. Its ionising and odour-absorbing characteristics make it capable of ‘cleaning’ expensive cocktails. One such rod costs USD 25, and if you plan to buy watch out because it breaks easily; at least it is washable. Back to the roots. In the bars, tapas restaurants and wineries of the Iberian Peninsula wineskin, the ancient receptacle made of leather is frequently used. This traditional and practical Spanish wine carrier is also called bota bag, and we dare say it adds something extra to the art of enjoying wine in the 21st century!