At first glance, Optimist might be mistaken for merely an American copy of (British) Seedlip. They both have three flavors, an herbal/vegetal one, a citrusy one and a smoky/spicy one. However, a side by side tasting quickly shows how distinct each of their offerings are from one another. Moreover, it shows how many interesting and complex flavors are possible by thoughtfully distilling high quality botanical ingredients.

I’ve tried this, and Optimist Fresh, and something about the finish doesn’t work for me. Bright is my preference over Fresh, but I don’t think these will be a repeat in my bar.