At Long Last

Well, it’s finally happening, the barest stirrings of the new distillery are beginning to rumble. As usual, everything is top top secret. Where? Can’t say. With whom? Can’t say. Who, what, when, where and how? Let’s just say me ++, fabulous distillery ++, as soon as possible, here in Oman of course, and an entirely impossible set of chance and circumstances.

And it’s gonna be cool. Like really ultimately, fabulously, insanely cool. I’m working with some extremely interesting people, and we are all on the same page; we are bringing together the beauty and utility of ancient design in a new, clean, green and uniquely Omani way. Plus I love that the entire scenario is completely impossible. When something’s impossible it’s always sweeter when you finally make it happen.

I’ve been waiting for two years. Waiting and distilling and waiting and distilling. The first year I didn’t really know what I was waiting for and it became more and more clear as this year has passed. And I still couldn’t write about it. But finally the ducks are lined up, the monkeys have typed Hamlet, and pigs flew across the sky. And I still can’t write about it but maybe a few whispers here and there are ok.

What can I say about the new distillery? It’s…..in the middle of a citrus grove. That’s something else I always wanted, that citrus grove. The citruses here are different than those in California. I don’t even know how, except to say that they are Omani citruses, dignified and slower-ripening. I should be able to make some nice petitgrain oil, and one day, perhaps, possibly, neroli. I saw some pomegranates too. And mangoes, papayas, dates…..even olives. Oh, and lemongrass.

That’s the only hint, the only clue for now. If anyone in Oman reads this blog, and is curious, all I can say is that it’s time to go fishing.