Aged Kibble: A Tasting Guide for the Patient Palate
Aged kibble is the pride of the deli. It sits for seven years in a barrel in the cellar, developing a dry, complex character that customers describe as “like a biscuit that has seen things.” Our sommelier of crunch, Lady Marguerite Paw, offers this tasting guide.
Look
Hold a piece up to the light. Fresh kibble is a bright brown. Aged kibble is a more thoughtful brown, a brown with opinions. A good piece should have a slight dullness around the edges, as if it were reading.
Smell
Sniff gently. You may notice notes of cardboard, distant gravy, a hint of a summer long ago, and a trace of the barrel, which was once used for something else. If you notice a note of mouse, it is probably the mouse.
Taste
Place one piece on the tongue. Wait. Do not chew too soon. Let it speak.
The first impression is dryness. The middle is a long, soft hum of cereal. The finish, which can last up to nine seconds, is a faint sense of having been told something important and then forgotten it.
Texture
Aged kibble has a firm snap. It should break with a clean sound, like a very small bone. A damp or limp piece should be returned to the barrel, where it will be asked to think about what it has done.
Pairings
Aged kibble pairs well with:
- A saucer of lukewarm water
- A view of a garden
- A discreet silence
- Absolutely nothing else, since the kibble is the main point
“To the untrained cat, it is a snack. To the trained cat, it is a snack with a past.” Lady Marguerite Paw
Storage
Keep your kibble in a cool, dry place away from the cat. This is not possible, so we recommend a safe.
Vintage notes
Our current stock, bottled in a year that cannot be disclosed, shows lovely structure and a slightly stubborn tone. We expect it to peak in about four years, by which point the deli may be a different shape.
Tastings are held on the first Saturday of each month. Please bring a clean palate and a small cushion.
