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SUMMER 08 ORGANIC SPA MAGAZINE ARTICLE

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"organic cocktail ingredients"

Sonoma Syrup Co / simply divine simple syrups

No bar is complete without simple syrup on hand, and these artisan mixtures bring with them the flavors and freshness of wine country. Sonoma Syrup Comany infuses the intense flavors of organically grown meyer lemons and mint, as part of their collection of fifteen natural flavorings. With a shelf life of 18 months, it’s great to have on hand, and works wonders added to ice teas, water, or your favorite cocktail. Sweeten your day with this lemony combo:

Sue Erickson's Meyer Lemon Drop Martini
1 lemon wedge
sugar
ice
2 ounces lemon flavored vodka
3/4 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce Meyer Lemon Infused Simple Syrup
1 lemon twist
Moisten the outer rim of a martini glass with the lemon wedge and coat lightly with sugar. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and shake well. Strain into the martini glass and garnish with the lemon twist.

Q Tonic mixer / a true tonic

Introducing the world’s best tonic water: mix hand-picked quinine, collected from the slopes of the Peruvian Andes, with Mexican organic agave, and you’ve got a 30 calorie treat. Q Tonic comes in beautifully designed glass bottles, perfectly proportioned for one drink. Besides improving your next gin and tonic, this natural Peruvian quinine has been used by herbalists for centuries to increase energy, accelerate digestion and stimulate blood flow. Try this stimulating cocktail by mixologist Wayne Minns:

Lemon Gin
2 parts premium Gin
1 part fresh Lemon Juice
Dash of simple syrup
Ice
Q Tonic
Lemon
Add gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Vigorously shake and pour into tall glass with ice. Top with Q Tonic as desired. Garnish with a Lemon

Sence Rose Nectar / this rose is a rose

Imagine a drink made from rose petals—from ancient roses only grown in Bulgaria. The blossoms are picked for only a three-week period from the hours of 3 to10 am, when dew levels are at their peak, and converted into concentrate within two hours, to obtain the maximum flavor and fragrance. Sence is just introducing their sensuous nectar into the US market, which has the makings for a great cocktail, can be savored on its own, or mixed with other juices or sparkling water. It tastes slightly sweet, and adds an extra kick of vitamin C to your day. Sample this pretty non-alcoholic punch:

Harmony Rose Punch
Sence Rose Nectar
Organic white cranberry juice
Organic pomegranate juice
Lemon
Combine equal parts of Sence Rose Nectar, white cranberry and pomegranate juice with a soft touch of fresh lemon. Optional garnish: crystallized rose petals.
[This appeared in Summer 2008 Organic Spa Magazine, organicspamagazine.com]

Modmix Organic Cocktail Mixers / mod mixers

The first organic line of mixers comes from three women who pioneered their way into the mostly male business of cocktails. Substitute these signature Modmix combos the next time you make the classics: Citrus Margarita, French Martini (adds a fruity punch), Lavender Lemon Drop (makes for a florally lemonade), Mojito and Pomegranate Cosmopolitan. Best of all, these drinks can be enjoyed with or without alcohol, just substitute some sparkling water for the liquor.

Lavender Lemon Drop Sparkle
1 part Modmix Organic Lavender Lemon Drop
1 part vanilla vodka
1 part champagne
Shake over ice, serve up in a martini glass

French Martini Pops
1 part Modmix Organic French Martini
1 part Modmix Organic Mojito
2 parts champagne
Serve in a martini glass

Mojito Fizz
1 part Modmix Organic Mojito
1 part ginger ale
1 part rum
Serve over ice in a tumbler
[This appeared in Summer 2008 Organic Spa Magazine, organicspamagazine.com]

Square One Organic Vodka / it’s hip to be square

This company goes organic all the way with their production methods, right down to the label made from bamboo. Square One Vodka is made from organic rye, and because of its minimal processing, the by-product can be sold to local dairy farms. Allison Evanow, the company’s founder, found inspiration from the cucumber water offered at many spas and is introducing this cucumber flavored vodka. Enjoy the refreshing essence of cucumber with the real thing in this twist on the traditional mojito:

Cucumber Mojito
6 sprigs of fresh mint
1 tbsp. organic agave nectar
3 tbsp. cucumber (preferably English), peeled and diced
1 lime, halved and juiced with 1 half reserved
2 oz. Square One Cucumber
club soda or sparkling water
Remove leaves from 5 sprigs of mint and place them in a cocktail shaker with agave nectar, cucumber and lime juice. Muddle with a wooden spoon or muddler for at least 30 seconds. Strain the liquid into a tall glass filled with crushed ice. Add the vodka and the lime half and stir. Fill glass to desired level with soda water. Garnish with the remaining sprig of mint.
[This appeared in Summer 2008 Organic Spa Magazine, organicspamagazine.com]

VeeV Acai spirit / berry good

Experience guiltless indulgence with VeeV’s Açaí spirit. Well known for it antioxidant properties, the açaí (ah-sigh-ee) berry packs 30 times more heart-healthy anthocyanins than red wine, AND has vitamins C and E, calcium, dietary fiber, protein, and omega 3s. VeeV mixes this exotic berry with prickly pear (a natural hangover remedy), and other natural ingredients and distills it by hand. Their distiller is one of the few in America to get at least 25% of their energy through wind and their unique distilling process uses about half the energy of other distilling methods. On top of all this, VeeV donates $1 for each bottle sold to ensure that açaí is “wild harvested” to preserve the surrounding flora and fauna and protect the biodiversity of the Amazonian rainforest. It’s delicious too! Revive your senses with this refreshing combination of fresh fruit and herbs:

Joie de VeeV
2 lime wedges
2 stawberries
3 mint leaves
2 oz. Veev
dash of sugar
ice
club soda
Muddle 1 wedge of lime, 1 strawberry and mint leaves in a mixing glass. Put into a cocktail shaker with 2 ounces of Veev, sugar and ice, shake. Pour into a short glass, top with club soda, garnish with remaining strawberry and lime wedge.
[This appeared in Summer 2008 Organic Spa Magazine, organicspamagazine.com]