Drinking Culture

On Menorca, gin is rarely drunk neat. The mix with lemon soda is called Pomada in Mahón. In Ciutadella, people prefer to call it gin amb llimonada, since the Ciutadellencs aren't fond of the name Pomada. Elsewhere on the island, the same mix is simply called Ginet.

The story of this mix goes back to 1927. Bartender Magí Camps first served Gin Xoriguer with siphon lemonade at the old Estación Marítima in Mahón, aiming to soften the smell of the alcohol. The idea grew into a drink that conquered the whole island within a few years.

Pomada takes center stage at the Fiestes de Sant Joan in Ciutadella, held at the end of June. Riders known as caixers parade through the narrow streets on horseback. Each rider represents a social group: the Caixer Capellà stands for the church, the Caixer Senyor for the nobility, the Caixers Pagesos for the farmers, alongside craftsmen and a representative of the common people.

During the so-called Jaleo, the horses rear up in the middle of the crowd while Pomada is passed around in cups. Watching this, it's easy to see why the drink is inseparable from the festival.

Outside festival days, Pomada is part of everyday summer evenings, found at beach bars as well as on the terraces of Mahón and Ciutadella. It's usually served in a simple glass over plenty of ice, cold and fizzy, never as an elaborate cocktail.