Haus of Babylon Spritz
An aperitivo, by way of Babylon.
We chose Haus of Babylon because the Middle East's first homegrown zero-proof house answers to no European model. Founded in Dubai by Annabel Arcari-Bowler and named for the ancient city where artists and thinkers gathered to trade ideas, it carries a second name at home — HoB, from the Arabic word for love. An aperitif with a lineage all its own is why it entered the house.
Tamarind, hibiscus, allspice — the signature trio — with cardamom, bitter orange and a hint of grapefruit running beneath. Macerated, drawn through a traditional pot still, then composed with the house's own tonic. Bittersweet at the front, spice unfolding through the middle, a clean herbal close that lingers.
The aperitivo, redrawn.
We do not score. We read. The Reading is how the house locates this bottle — four axes, written on the four petals of the mark.
The Reading™
NOSE spiced
ARC unfolding
WEIGHT grounded
STAY tamarind-long
One to four petals, quiet to pronounced. A Reading is a location, not a grade.
Poured in — the Savage Lowball, over ice with equal parts tonic and soda, a wide ribbon of orange across the rim. Build it as the maker intends.
Serve — chilled, at the early hour. At the bar it darkens the composed Negroni, or lengthens with zero-proof sparkling into the spritz, made for arrival.
