2023 Q2 Spirited VA - 24

cocktails rely on sweet simple syrups,
and the addition of flowers and herbs
introduces creative flavors to the glass.
A basic simple syrup is a one-to-one
ratio of sugar to water. Heat the mixture
gently until the sugar dissolves.
In incorporating botanicals, start
with about a packed cup of fresh flowers
or herbs, or 1/8 to ¼ cup of dried flowers.
Flowers and herbs are typically added
during the boil, simmered for about 10
minutes and strained out after cooling.
You can also use a tea strainer or
cheesecloth for steeping. Experiment
with quantities, and add plain simple
syrup if the resulting flavor is too strong.
Delightful herbs and flower for your
syrups include dried hibiscus flowers,
rosemary, lavender, lemongrass, basil,
thyme, lilac, elderflower, rose and
mint-or a combination! You can also
add extracts such as vanilla, almond
and orange.
Rosewater often appears in cocktail
recipes without the sugar of a syrup. For
a rose-tinged Gin and Tonic, for example,
you'd add ¼ teaspoon of rosewater to
the gin and the tonic water. If you need
a rose simple syrup, add 1 teaspoon
rosewater per cup of plain simple syrup.
Your natural " playlist " of plants.
Consider the array of easy-to-grow
herbs-including mint, basil, rosemary,
thyme, lemon verbena, sage and lavender-and
flowers like roses, violets and
orchids. You can use many of these for
cooking and other household uses as
well as for gracing your cocktails.
Several farms in Virginia feature
acres of lavender along with gift shops
with lavender plants and products (See
sidebar).
You can find more information,
including lists of plants native to Virginia's
various growing regions, at DCR.
Virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nativeplants.
For a database of native plants
throughout North America, go to the
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
at Wildflower.org/plants-main.
Other edible native Virginia plants
Flapjack Flip
From Laird & Company, by Elise and
Tyler Brown
✿ 1½ OZ LAIRD'S STRAIGHT
APPLEJACK 86
✿ ¾ OZ ROSEMARY MAPLE
SYRUP (SEE ABOVE)
✿ 1 WHOLE EGG
✿ 1 TO 2 DASHES OF
AROMATIC BITTERS
Add ingredients to a shaker and dry
shake (without ice) vigorously for
30 seconds. Add ice and shake for
another 30 to 45 seconds. Strain
and serve in a coupe glass. Garnish
with freshly grated cinnamon.
for foraging or growing include:
* Mountain mint, including narrowleaf
mountain mint (Pycnanthemum
tenuifolium) and Virginia mountain mint
(Pycnanthemum virginianum)
* Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata)
* Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
* Violet (Viola pedata)
Naturally Luscious Recipes
Sweet Hibiscus
Lemonade
From KateNaturals.com
✿ ¼ CUP OF DRIED HIBISCUS FLOWERS
✿ 2½ CUPS OF WATER
✿ 1½ CUPS OF SUGAR OR OTHER
NATURAL SWEETENER
✿ 1 CUP OF LEMON JUICE
✿ ANOTHER 2½ CUPS OF WATER
✿ VODKA OR GIN
Mix 2½ cups of water and the sweetener
together and boil until the sweetener dissolves.
Add dried hibiscus flowers to this
mixture and let it cool to room temperature.
After letting the flowers steep, strain the
flowers out. Add lemon juice and another
2½ cups of water to the final mixture.
To make a cocktail, add 4 ounces of lemonade
and 1½ ounces of preferred liquor to a glass
with ice. Stir and garnish with a lemon slice.
24 VIRGINIA ABC | ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV
For many more floraltouched
drink recipes
and flavored-syrup
recipes, go to
ABC.Virginia.gov/Floral
http://www.KateNaturals.com http://www.Virginia.gov/natural-heritage/native-plants http://www.Wildflower.org/plants-main http://ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV
2023 Q2 Spirited VA

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