Astral Lounge Special Sangria

I do fancy a lovely drink! So why not tell captains about what I think about the variety of alcoholic beverages that can be found and purchased. I've decided to begin with the Astral Lounge Special Sangria.
If you asked me if I would drink this again–perhaps. Would I trust it with my taste buds blindfolded? Certainly not.
I'll be blunt about the matter. The Astral Lounge Special Sangria sounds fancier than it has any right to be. The name alone suggests something crafted under starlight by mixologists in tailored jumpsuits – not slapped together behind a Neon bar by someone who thinks a fruit garnish counts as sophistication. No offence to Boone Morgan. No relation by the way.
So what is it and what was my first impression?
It's a fruit-infused red wine. As to what sort of fruit, that remains a mystery. It arrives in a glass bottle that is commemorative of the local Benjamin Bayu statue. That alone is nearly enough for me to dock some points. Yet I will remain fair. I'm not unreasonable, after all.
The bottle is rather elegant, even with the image of Bayu. It's presentation is impressive. You’ll feel like royalty, until you take a sip and realise the “special” might refer to the bartender’s decision to mix six kinds of fruit juice with a wine that tastes suspiciously like it’s been rerouted from a cargo freighter’s cooking supplies.
Let's discuss the taste further shall we.
Well, it tries to be charming. I’ll give it that. There’s a moment, just a flicker, where the citrus dances on your tongue and you think, “Alright, we might have something here.” And then, it hits you. In comes a wave of synthetic sweetness that clings to your teeth like it’s applied for permanent residency.
Notes of berry? Yes. Notes of regret? Stronger.
It’s not all awful though. Give it a bit of time. After a few sips, it starts to mellow. Perhaps it's the alcohol dulling the critical faculties, or maybe there's some alchemical magic that kicks in after the third gulp. Either way, it seemingly grows on you – like an eccentric crewmate who’s annoying at first but ends up saving your arse in a gunfight.
My final thoughts on the Astral Lounge Special Sangria.
Would I serve it at a respectable gathering of Constellation members? Not unless I wanted Walter to spiral into a speech about “refined palettes.” I don't even think Barrett would regard this with any sort of serious merit.
Would I drink it again while trying to forget a mission gone wrong or after a long day dealing with a captain's rubbish behaviour? Certainly. Preferably with the lights dimmed and expectations lower than a Grav Drive’s warranty.
So what is my approval level for this supposedly luxurious wine? I give the Astral Lounge Special Sangria three stars out of five. One for effort, one for presentation, and one because it does get you drunk. In the end, isn’t that the point?