limbic brain????

Limbic system
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brain: Limbic system

The limbic system (Latin limbus: "border" or "edge") includes the structures in the human brain involved in emotion, motivation, and emotional association with memory. The limbic system influences the formation of memory by integrating emotional states with stored memories of physical sensations (see emotional memory).

total olfaction

This mezcal--mescal?--was a whole new kind of tasting experience for me: it was almost entirely olfactory. Maybe this is how a lizard “tastes,” by just flicking its tongue. As well as savoring a sip every few minutes, I stuck my nose in the glass and just inhaled every few minutes. The aroma was a lot more complex than anything my tongue’s taste bud receptors were designed to recognize. It had a "flavor" designed more for the limbic brain than the mouth. Other extremely volatile drinks (armagnac, cognac, old whiskey) have at least one or two comfortingly identifiable taste connections--sweet, acid, bitter. This mezcal had cut all the kite strings attached to the usual contents of the sensory memory bank.
And I tend to think that’s part of the enchantment.

At least, that's how I remember it...

mmalouf

All Together Now

Well, it's a rare day that we're almost all together. Serious components have convened from Salt Lake City, Santa Fe, Dallas and Brooklyn for a serious night of serious tacos, serious mezcal and talk. The talk might or might not have been serious, but it seemed serious at the time.

The tacos were good, carnitas and pastor from a walkup taco stand. The mezcal was indeed serious. Imported by Del Maguey, these are the real deal. Produced in villages in the mountains outside of Oaxaca from virtually indigenous strains of agave, these are truly artisanal mezcals. The Minero, which we were drinking, is distilled in clay stills with bamboo piping in a pueblo high in the mountains at 6500 feet. It is characterized by rich citrus fruits with notes of smoky honey, with a thick oily texture you can roll around on your tongue. The flavors develop and hang on the palate and when accompanied by Miles Davis in the cool mode it definitely alters perception of time, space and color.

How I can type is something of a mystery in keeping with the spirits of the night.

David.