Liquor
Local Seattle Vodka & Gin – Sound Spirits
It’s pretty amazing what you can find just leisurely walking around Seattle. Case in point, the other day I decided to take a walk down 15th near the Interbay area and ran into Sound Spirits, a Seattle craft distillery producing primarily Vodka and Gin (with an Aquavit coming soon!) under the label Ebb+Flow.
Billed as Seattle’s first distillery since prohibition, Sound Spirits uses local ingredients to distill each batch by hand at their Interbay facility.Their entire operation is contained within this single building, including the distillery itself, tasting room and store. › Continue reading
Kanon Organic Vodka
A hot new introduction from a 400 year old distillery, Kanon Organic Vodka originates from the Gripsholm Distillery in Sweden. Dating back to 1580, this old world distillery with royal history was the largest distillery in Sweden supplying its foundry workers with high quality spirits from locally grown organic wheat. High quality organic vodka offerings from Europe are ever increasing with very little competition from state-side distilleries.
It is not just history which sets Kanon Organic Vodka apart from other organic liquor, it is also the unique organic process avoiding an ‘over-distilled’ vodka, providing a clean distinctive natural flavor without the typical vodka burn. I found it quite appealing on the rocks as well as paired with a mixer.
Going beyond just organic, the Gripsholm Distillery is run on wind and hydro power with all by-products being renewed. Even the Kanon bottle is made from 60% recycled glass giving it another bump on the eco-friendly scale. Locally produced organic wheat cuts down on transportation costs, and supports the local farmers.
Organic, Shaken and Stirred – Green Cocktail Book Review
I recently received a great new organic cocktail mixer book sent to me by Paul Abercrombie, a true connoisseur who also is a regular contributor to The Washington Post, Wine Enthusiast and Gourmet magazine. His new book Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis, and Other Totally Green Cocktails is a fresh look at mixology from a more green perspective. Not limited to the addition of organic spirits and liquors, but an exploration into local eco-friendly concoctions, new flavors, textures and organic twists on tried and true classics.
With tips on how to stock your green bar, drink history and background, and in-depth explanations, it is as much a industry insight as it is a recipe book. Not your standard bartender fare, a few treasured and exotic drinks require complex preparation for amazing results that will astonish and impress your party guests.
From organic vodka to local organic gin and more than 60 cocktails (most of them original), this book will keep you entertained with a taste for everybody. The beautiful pictures and serving suggestions only add to the mouthwatering appeal of the drink itself.
Drink credits are listed so you may find and taste the original cocktail by its creator, whether its a hip lounge in Manhattan or a trendy Canadian hotel bar. Online resources assure that you will be able to source all of the ingredients found in the book, no matter how obscure.
Check out his blog for more tips, recipes and green cocktail news at: www.organicshakenandstirred.com
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Local Organic Vodka and Gin – Organic Nation
I recently had the opportunity to sample some of Oregon’s own wonderful Organic Nation craft distilled Vodka and Gin. Both are handcrafted by Cascade Peak Spirits Inc. in limited-runs from organic ingredients sourced locally.
Since most chemicals are removed from the spirits during the distillation process, many believe that selecting organic liquors isn’t as important as buying organic foods. Organic Nation takes the stance that local and sustainable organic farming practices are just as important as the final product, and they aren’t messing around. Organic Nation is Oregon Tilth Certified Organic, which has arguably the most restrictive organic certification in existence.
Their two current offerings (with more to come, including an organic whiskey which is aging in barrels as you are reading this) are the Organic Nation O-N Vodka and Gin. Each one has its own distinctive flavors to set them apart from everything else on the market.
Green Cocktails, Eco-Friendly Spirits and Organic Liquors
When going to the grocery store nowadays, its easy to find your favorite foods and produce in an Organic alternative. Several coffee chains are are migrating over to organic beans, so what about other beverages? Slowly making head-roads, Organic spirits and liquor are now finding their way into your favorite night spots. Just make sure not to pollute your organic liquor with non-organic mixers!
Square One Organic Vodkas have been the first to make major inroads into mixed drink establishments, and I bet you will see their trademarked square bottle on the shelf at your favorite bar. So what makes their vodka so green? Inspired by the community’s embrace of the land, Square One Organic Vodka founder Allison Evanow was enticed by the environmental issues raised by the community farmers’ market.
Not only is the vodka distilled from organically grown North Dakota rye, the packaging and the process were also made eco-friendly. Avoiding serious chemicals, they choose not to frost the bottles, and instead used easy to peel labels (makes a great vase for reuse) made of sustainably grown and renewable › Continue reading
