CURRENT-ly Loving Current Cassis
CURRENT-ly Loving Current Cassis
Hudson Valley is home to Rachael Petach's brainchild C. Cassis, a natural fermented fizzy beverage made with local blackcurrants. We chat with her about the fruit, the region she works in, and more.
1. Describe how you came to the blackcurrant fruits/your history to the fruit?
There are sort of two Proustian moments for me and the blackcurrant - one when I was 19, travelling alone in Europe for the first time, and drinking at a (looking back, probably very touristy) bar in the Left Bank. I had a Kir Royale and despite being totally broke, felt a sense of complex luxury that stuck with me. That blackcurrant flavor is moody and haunting. Second being when I was WOOFing in France in 2009, and had fresh blackcurrants at the market near Mayenne. Their depth of flavor, bright acidity, and savory qualities again had my heart.
2. What's your favorite way to enjoy the liqueur?
Love to spritz! My favorite is splitting C. Cassis with dry vermouth, topping with soda, and garnishing with an orange + olive. Kind of a riff on a Spanish vermouth and soda. Perfect afternoon long drink. Also really love to play with it as a sweet vermouth sub in classics like a negroni or manhattan.
3. What do you love about being in the Hudson Valley and doing what you do?
Obsessed with the agrarian landscape of the Hudson Valley and all that it affords us in terms of fruit to ferment, botanicals to grow, and an inspirational community of fellow beverage producers that really lean on each other and support each other.
4. What challenges do you face being a small business owner?
Being a small business owner is just challenging period. It's always a tight rope walk to make the financials work. You often have to play a lot of roles, there is a steep learning curve, and you're doing everything you can to build something stable.
5. What are you reading/watching/listening to?
I'm constantly reading and while there have been some great newer books that I've read (Nicole Treska's Wonderland, Claire-Louise Bennette's Checkout 19, Lydia Kiesling's Mobility) lately I've been revisiting a lot of old favorites with new eyes - Barthes, Ariana Reines (excited about her TWO new books coming out), Clarice Lispector, Anais Nin. Just started an X-Files rewatch. Been listening to the recently relaunched East Village Radio (Desert City, Howlin Mold), Richard Lloyd Alchemy, Marc Jonson 12 In A Room.