Says the man with the lovely flask of lovely alcohol.

I didn't get by the part where it tasted like ass to me.

That's me with Pernod. I get disappointed looks at cafes in the Languedoc.

There is no way you'd like it deb. It is bitter , it bites. Honestly, the first shot ( which I sipped - I never do shots of things I can't sip) was hard. but as I got used to it , I could pick out more flavors. It is complex, but I can see not going further with it. I have good tastebuds, but I am not a supertaster. I like really tasteing things - and to sort of pull apart the flavors with my tounge. not good for a supertaster. and I can see a lot of people not thinking it is worth it. Matt - only does it in shot form, for him I think it is more the almost instant lose limb but still clear head that he like . ( A Truely clear head. despite the fact that you can think , you know ( if you know your body at all) that you can not drive. I actually like the taste. and the more I drink it, the more I can get past the inital bitterness.

I think julianna truely converted me.

Wheras I *am* a supertaster, albeit probably not in ita's class - as I remember from years past, hers are very defined indeed. Mine get a bit blurred these days, but with it comes a sort of hi-def "don't go there" effect, and anise is one of those flavours. Weirdly, I adore cilantro, but I hate green peppers; I love basil and oregano but don't think paprika has any taste at all.

Tastes is weird.

Of course, not being a fan of being drunk to begin with, the anise would merely be another reason to move along.

I'd say avoid it like the plague, Deb, from what you've said of your preferences.

I had one glass of fernet at the SF2F. It's not my favourite drink ever - Fernet Branca, which y'all were drinking, tasted very like Fernet Stock, which is one of the most popular spirits in the Czech Republic. And when I lived in the Czech Republic I developed a more of a taste for Becherovka, which is not entirely dissimilar, but is less bitter, or perhaps just bitter in a different way...lighter, perhaps, and more spicy, more cinnamony. So drinking Fernet gave me this whole Pavlovian '...and now where's the OTHER one? The cinnamony one?' kind of reaction. Um.

(If you like Fernet, I'd definitely recommend trying Becher. Might not appeal to you as much as Fernet, or might appeal to you more, but it's got that whole medicinal-but-I-like-it thing going on in spades.)

Weirdly, I adore cilantro, but I hate green peppers; I love basil and oregano but don't think paprika has any taste at all.

Huh. I have pretty much the same reactions right across the board. I honestly don't notice the taste of paprika - as far as i'm concerned, it exists to make deviled eggs look pretty.

I can taste paprika, but only barely. I don't know if I've ever had cilantro. I love green peppers. I use basil, but too much of it gives things a weird, sweet taste (particularly tomato sauces) that I can't abide. I love oregano.

I keep thinking if deb tried the Fernet, she'd have an allergic reaction to one of the herbs.

In the funny baby expressions of all time category: Me giving Mal a sprig of cilantro.

My supertaster DH would agree with deb completely, except that he dislikes the taste of alcohol so much he can't abide champagne either.

Weirdly, I adore cilantro

That is weird. Well. I think anyone liking cilantro is pretty weird. I realise this means I'm categorising the great majority of the human race as freaks. Sounds about right.

My supertaster DH would agree with deb completely, except that he dislikes the taste of alcohol so much he can't abide champagne either.

I manage the bubbly because - yes, this will sound as peculiar as it gets - I can taste the fizzles in it, the CO2 or whatever is used to make it fizz up. Add peach nectar and I'm happy.

Beer, to me, smells like weasel pee. Hard booze smells like something I'd clear out a clogged drain with.

Cindy, the green pepper thing? It's weird, because I love roasted red, yellow or orange peppers. It's just the green ones. Gah.

(OT, sort of) BTW, speaking of beer, our homeless friend John sends his thanks. We've been bringing him all the beer left over from the BBQ, since neither of us drink it. He does, though.