Borino Fizz - Hibiskus

Photo: Oliver Schwarzwald

Hibiscus, yes it is!

BORINO FIZZ is produced on the Danish island of Funen by master brewer Bo Rino Christiansen. Andreas Brandt from Hamburg is also on the team. From his Mandala garden in Howacht, on the Baltic Sea, he supplies some of the herbs and ingredients for the three sparklings. The other part comes directly from Denmark. Bo Christiansen uses these two sources to produce the non-alcoholic Borino Fizz range in his brewery through fermentation.

Working with the best ingredients is in Bo's blood: with his "Kunstbryggeriet Far & Søn" on Funen, the brewer has become an important protagonist of the Scandinavian craft beer scene. This is exactly where Borino Fizz began. Because as a quality-conscious creative brewer, Bo Christiansen knows what can be produced by fermenting natural raw materials.

BORINO FIZZ is available in three varieties so far: Hibiscus, Botanicals and Gentle Thai. While the latter works very well as a mixer, Hibiscus also convinces me as a "stand alone". Here, floral notes meet well-balanced acidity, as well as tart hints in the finish. Hibiscus is clearly in the foreground. Perlage is fine and persistent. The drink is multi-layered and lingers pleasantly on the palate. With a non-alcoholic Vermouth such as Undone's No. 8, it becomes an interesting alternative to well-known Italian Bitter Sprizz variants. The Gentle Thai is a little lighter overall, Thai basil and ginger notes are noticeable. Perhaps a little thin on its own, but a perfect companion to a bitter like Osco or Volee. The botanicals version also combines excellently. An Ital. Bitters like Undones No.7 or Mondino are a good choice here. Only the price is a bit of a downer. At €14.00, it is in the upper price segment, which is understandable for small producers. With the hibiscus, these are well invested. My hope is that prices will drop in the long run due to the wider distribution of non-alcoholic alternatives. Fingers crossed!