5 Refreshing Garden-Fresh Cocktails
Seasonal cocktail with a healthy twist. (Photos by Amber Burrahm)
As more people continue to steer clear of processed foods and trans fats, communities across the country are seeing a rise in specialty stores and outdoor markets that offer fresh, nutritious, locally sourced fare. This is good news for local economies, the environment and most of all, our health. It’s an old saw, but one worth repeating: We are what we eat. Of course, sometimes even the staunchest slow foodies get a hankering for a good drink.
Fortunately, the farm-to-table movement has found a seat at the bar. We called upon some of America’s top mixologists for craft-cocktail recipes that combine garden freshness with just the right amount of booziness. Read on to find an adult beverage that’s ideal for your next outdoor soiree.
1. World’s Fair
When creating cocktails for one of the most popular eateries on the west side of Los Angeles, bar manager Adam George Fournier makes it a point to always use delicious seasonal produce he buys himself at the local farmers market (which just happens to be the largest in Southern California). He uses fresh cucumber and dill to coax refreshing and summery notes from a vivacious single-malt whisky-based cocktail. Get the recipe here.
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2. Rosemary Royale
Thanks in large part to the so-called brunch movement that is so pervasive in big cities from coast to coast, wine-based cocktails, or spritzers, are more popular than ever. At New York’s Saxon + Parole (which does a brisk brunch business), head bartender Maxime Belfand’s riff on the classic Kir Royale swaps out the berry liqueur for an herbaceous rosemary honey to create an earthier alternative. The addition of white rum gives it a sweet and summery kick. Get the recipe here.
3. Melone Faraglion
Popular L.A. hotspot Warwick, which undergoes a redesign every season, is currently embracing the Italian island of Capri. “When I think of the Italian coast,” says bartender Jason Bran, “one of the most iconic images is that of the Faraglioni rocks. I wanted to build a cocktail that replaced traditional ice cubes with one towering cube, which led me to the popsicle, a play on the Faraglioni.” The taste is light, crisp and refreshing. Get the recipe here.
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4. Cirrus
Back in 2005, mixologist Josh Curtis played bass guitar in a band fronted by John Denver’s widow, Cassandra, at a benefit concert for U.S. troops stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “I had not seen Cassandra since then,” says Curtis. Until recently, that is, when she visited Curtis at Shutters on the Beach, where he’s the star bartender at a weekly boîte event. He wowed his former lead singer by doing his best Johnny Appleseed impression. “She took one sip,” he says, “and said ‘let’s get the band back together!’” Get the recipe here.
5. Desert Wildfire
Living in the Coachella Valley, bartender Joseph Kwiatkowski devotes a great deal of time and energy to researching desert plants and finding ways to incorporate them into the delicious cocktails he makes. “We have so much growing wild here that sometimes all it takes to find a new inspiration is to take a few steps outside your front door,” says Kwiatkowski. For this twist on the French 75, he and fellow mixologist Heather Huettl combined honey sourced from the nearby Living Desert Zoo and Gardens with desert sage to create an ambrosial herbal syrup. Those flavors play really well with the raspberry, peach and Turkish Rose notes in the gin. Get the recipe here.
The original article “8 Cocktail Recipes Fresh From the Garden“ appeared on LIVESTRONG.COM.
By Dan Dunn
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