When I look at the bottles in the bar-shelves I first notice the Cognac and Brandy bottles; “stocky”, fat and very comfortably installed at the first row. These bottles are definetely well established members of the bar with their rather sad labels displaying their age and their respective stars on them.
Then come the whisky bottles. They are longer and leaner than the Cognac-ones. They all have almost the same dark boiled-tea colour. They look as they have always been there, available to be poured into any glass. Some of them are half empty, indicating that they are much more appreciated and used than the others. Placed on the left and on the right of the Cognac bottles, these whiskies seem to protect the other drinks and, at the same time with their red, golden and cream coloured labels, they try to convey a more joyful atmosphere to the bar.
Next to the whisky bottles, some placed behind them, the pale and grey Gim bottles are only few. They are unpretentious and cool, almost too aware of their secondary role as part of future Dry Martinis, awaiting to be mixed to Cocktails or to become “Gin-and-Tonics”. They look rather noble, and at the same time, very modest indeed.
Among those bottles in the bar, the most cheerful, colourful and extrovert are the Vermouth bottles. They display colourful labels, full of red, gold, blue, pink, yellow, white and green. They are full of sunshine, life and optimism. They are tall and strong, not very fat; sure of themselves they are all-over the bar-shelves with their charming and self-confident look, diminishing somehow the relevance of the other bottles.
Wine-bottles; red, white and rose, are reflecting another joyful side of this “bar-people”. They look very patient, relaxed; the image and the message they carry are filled with charm and tranquility. Among them, the Champagne bottles are the crowned heads; noble and superior, they have the consciousness of being very important. They represent the “elite”; the “ creme de la creme”. With their tick, golden and silver tops -their crowns-, they definetely dominate the bar.
Finally some other bottles, hidden behind their more important fellows, show their very modest origins in a very obvious manner: Polish and Russian Vodkas, Turkish Rakis, Greek Ouzos, Mexican Tequilas, Cuban Rums, Araks from the Middle East; Eurpoean Pastis, Schnaps and Eaux- de-Vie... Their pale, almost colourless labels inspire a joyless and unattractive exotism.
May I conclude by saying that I am only an observer and an admirer of these bottles... and I never drink!!!!!
• Tunay AKOGLU is a freelance consultant living in Brussels. He wrote this short ‘essay’ for the Elegans Magazine.
|