Jelinek Slivovice (Czech Republic); Manastirka Stara C Slivova Prepecenica (Serbia); Pisco Control, La Serena, Chile; Raynal XO Brandy (France); Jameson's; Glenfiddich Single Malt, Aged 12 years; idem. aged 18 years (Scotland); Polmos Starka V fin Vodka Polonaise (guess) ; Skane Akvavit (Denmark); Zubrowka Bison Brandy (Poland I believe), flavoured with an extract of Zubrowka, the fragrant herb beloved by the European Bison (if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us); Berghof Williams; Takaji-Aszu 5 puttonyos 1993 (wow) with decorative swirls and bunches of grapes (Hungary of course); one third of a bottle of Old Nick rum (?); Martini dry vermouth (France) ; Della Cia Grappa (Italy); Ricard (France); Poltsamaa Golden Natural Wine (Estonia); Noilly Prat dry vermouth (France); Pimm's No. 1 (UK); Uve d'Alexander Grappa di Rosecco (sic) 2000 Italia in a skinny, frosted bottle; Aalborg Akvavit (Denmark); "Golden Strings" red wine in a violin shaped glass bottle (Moldova); Vodka Chopin with unreadable origins; Hydromel from 01200 Montange (France); Pêche du Feuillu 1982 and Coings du Feuillu 1989 (Switzerland); brandy from-- is it Korea? or is it Japan?-- with small green plums or large dead olives huddled in a flask; Mirtillino Sapori d'Ossola Liquore con Mirtilli (Italy) and a bottle of Mozart dark chocolate liqueur (Austria).
I probably left out some other bottles--Irish something lurking in in the basement--but I haven't checked lately.
The above is what I found in our cabinet, a result of years of duty-free visits, transatlantic guests and the alas departed (from Geneva).
Geneva is a place people come to and then leave. And they leave their bottles full, half full, obscure and name-brand, and there is always the last-minute booze giveaway to friends.
When the next person leaves, he or she passes on the accumulated collection to the next person, who then donates it to friends who can't finish them and give them away to other friends who don't drink but know people who do, and so on.
Classic and eccentric beverages stand forlorn in a closet while cases of chasselas and gamay and Côtes du Rhône are regularly drained at the dinner table a few feet away. Enough to cause despair in the most mature of single malts.
I know there is the Rebirth of The Cocktail, and cocktail lounges are holding their own next to wine bars in big cities. And I don't say no to the occasional mojito or two.
But let's get real, our livers are picky nowadays. And no one wants Bison Brandy sticking to their laptop.
