Life is there, neither simple nor peaceful, but rather curiously ambiguous, because we feel its fragility at the very moment when we recognize its absolute immanence. Thus, Raymond Dumay can write that "after having probed the reins and hearts, we come to a conclusion: alcohol is a product of philosophy more than of distillation, it is existentialist. Alcohol was not, it became. It was made by making its consumer, who in turn became different as the alcohol changed. All alcohols follow the same evolution, which is that of man and equally that of art. They move towards more stripped-down, sobriety, finesse..." "Dumay declines with as much science as art the crazy story of alcohols from around the world, adding cocktail secrets and recipes. Intoxicating." Jérôme Garcin, Nouvel Observateur, December 23, 2008 "All of this reads like a novel" Revue du Vin de France, November 2009