In Pour Taste, hosted by Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh (who we were actually lucky enough to chat to on our YouTube channel, which you can watch here), is a unique and hilarious comedy wine-tasting experience at Bijou at Assembly that encourages the audience to not only trust their instincts but also builds a sense of community among everyone in attendance. From rosé regulars to vino virgins, every single person will deepen their wine knowledge while getting progressively more and more drunk (which is always a plus, in my opinion). Through their unique blend of witty crowd work, Aussie banter and even The Wiggles, Ethan and Sweeney have crafted a show that simultaneously laughs about the convoluted world of wine while also having the audience walk away a bit more knowledgeable on the topic!
Anyone who actually knows me in real life will be aware that there is nothing I love more than enjoying a nice yet affordable bottle of red wine. At this point, it has become almost a tradition for me to share the factoids from the TV show QI, where it was shown to be near impossible to taste the difference between red and white wine in blind tastings, but also the fact that traditionally, the price a customer pays for a glass of red wine in a bar or restaurant is usually the full price the company has paid for the bottle. Once the bottle is open, there is only a short window in which they can use it, so they must ensure they get their money back on the first sale. It would not be an Aussie-led show if there wasn’t at least one reference to one of the most iconic groups to come from Down Under, and by that I obviously mean The Wiggles! Instead of simply having one nod to the children’s entertainment titans, the duo decided to include them in every single tasting as the energetic “Hot Potato” blasts through Bijou at Assembly every time a drink is brought out, with the crowd encouraged to join in with the wacky dance moves every single time they hear it. I have to admit that I thought this was a very strange inclusion, but after the second iteration, I found myself almost instinctively doing the moves. It helped transition the crowd to the next wine in front of them.
On top of leading these impromptu dance sessions and cracking a wonderful collection of jokes and gags throughout, Ethan and Sweeney also supported in ensuring every single person in the crowd was prepared with the next drink. They physically went around pouring wine in an approachable and energetic manner, which helped ensure not only that everyone was prepared but also that there was no lull in momentum as the show progressed. One of the recurring bits in this unique wine-tasting/comedy experience sees Ethan modelling how each wine should be tasted, with a series of strange situations to essentially elicit a very minimal yet purposeful reaction to each wine. Teaching phrases such as “there is a lot going on in this wine” in a very performative way was one method of making everyone seem knowledgeable about wine without actually knowing anything, and I, for one, cannot wait to use this approach going forward. In my opinion, one of the best inclusions in this event was the distribution of the ‘bullshit bell’, which audiences were encouraged to use — and use they did — when something became too convoluted or upmarket. While the chosen table were initially reserved and hesitated to use the bell, as the show progressed they became more and more confident. Most notably, they used it repeatedly during a story Ethan was sharing about dressing up nicely to go out, which was absolutely hilarious!
In conclusion, In Pour Taste by Ethan Cavanagh and Sweeney Preston is a hilarious look into the world of wine and breaks it down into easily understandable nuggets of information that you can sprinkle into any soirée to make yourself look like you know what you are talking about. With hilarious comedy from the Australian duo and purposeful and astute education from the wine expert, this beautiful contrast creates a wonderful dynamic that the audience are instantly drawn into, while sprinkling in a series of key buzzwords they can use in any wine-based encounter. Giving the audience this simplified toolkit on wine tasting while also providing an injection of relaxation through many people’s favourite type of R&R (wine drinking) makes this the perfect way to wind down after — or during — the chaos of the Fringe. This show is a must-see, especially for those who are fans of wine but do not know what really makes a good drink, like myself! I would rate this show 5 out of 5 stars!
Rhysreviews 