Muri Passing Clouds - 0,4% ABV
Photo: Oliver Schwarzwald
More Proxies please!
Muri from Copenhagen, founded by Murra Paterson and Joakeim Goulidis in 2020, is one of the most interesting representatives of the wine-proxie producers. In this new category of alcohol-free (up to 0.5 %) drinks, the aim is not to imitate wines, champagnes or similar alcoholic drinks, but to create completely new flavour profiles. Kombucha, kefir or kvass are often fermented and flavoured in several steps.
According to the manufacturer, Passing Clouds uses jasmine tea, quince kefir and woodruff and geranium kvass. Gooseberry juice and white currants are also added. The result is a light yellow, slightly cloudy, fine sparkling and complex alternative with 0.4% ABV. In addition to the typical slightly acidic fermentation aromas, you can also perceive very fresh quince aromas with a hint of sweet pear on the nose. The green, mineral acidity of the gooseberry can be clearly sensed. Very interesting is the hidden woodruff, which I first associated with almond or marzipan. Obviously, this Proxie is quite complex. And more and more nuances develop from sip to sip. The slight sweetness and a fine bitter finish make Passing Clouds a perfect partner when it comes to high-level food pairing. Spicy cheese or roasted fish would be perfect here.
To drink neat, I find many of the fermented products unsuitable for me. On the one hand, because of the alcohol content. 0.4% doesn't seem particularly tricky compared to a fully ripe banana, which can also reach an alcohol content of 0.6%. But when it comes to drinks, it's a bit different. I don't eat fully ripe bananas very often and certainly not in a double or triple pack. With drinks, it can quickly become more than one glass, the bottle is 0.7 litres. In addition, the alcohol content can vary, e.g. when the product is post-fermenting. So I stick to one pairing glass for the meal. This is completely harmless for me. I also have to say that I don't tolerate too much ferment well either. After two glasses straight, without a snack, I often get a slightly queasy feeling. Perhaps I simply lack the practice in Kombucha enjoyment. With a price of around 20 €, Passing Clouds is more recommended for a good meal in company anyway.
Cheers!
Photo: Oliver Schwarzwald
Photo: Oliver Schwarzwald