As we head into Earth Month and look forward to Earth Day on April 22, I was inspired to honor the occasion with a cocktail that highlights both notions of sustainability and energy conservation. But first, I wanted to bring into focus a few earth-friendly considerations to ponder while you sip your next cocktail.
• Think local and seasonal: By choosing local and seasonal produce, we avoid costly packaging and transport.
• Reimagine citrus: Citrus can be one of the most wasteful ingredients in cocktails. For the purpose of this month’s drink, I substituted the necessary acidity with a passion fruit shrub that also adds tropical depth.
• Repurpose ingredients: In this recipe, the dragon fruit is used as both the puree for the cocktail and the shell for the drinking vessel. The passion fruit was also used whole to create the shrub.
• Reconsider garnishes: Repurposing edible flower petals and pineapple leaves adds an eco-friendly aesthetic and avoids a wasteful garnish.
• Minimize ice: To reduce overuse of ice, the ingredients were blended without ice, and then I used crushed ice to help with proper dilution.
• Avoid plastic: The simplest way to achieve sustainability behind the bar is to say goodbye to plastic straws. Consider a reusable metal, glass, or bamboo straw instead. Similarly, replace plastic stirrers or cocktail picks with metal or bamboo ones.
The best way we can show our appreciation for the earth is by being mindful of creating less waste and reducing our environmental impact, even when it comes to cocktails. Cheers to this beautiful earth of ours!
Dragon’s Resolve
Made with local-to-Florida dragon fruit and passion fruit, this tropical drink makes every attempt at mindful conservation
Ingredients (makes 1 drink)
1 1/2 oz. gin
2 1/2 oz. dragon fruit puree
1 1/2 oz. passion fruit shrub (see additional recipe)
1/2 oz. simple syrup (optional)
Add all of the ingredients to a blender and mix without ice. Pour the mixture into the dragon fruit shell and top with crushed ice. Garnish with pineapple leaves and edible flower petals.
Passion Fruit Shrub Ingredients
1 cup passion fruit
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup apple cider vinegar
In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the passion fruit, sugar, and water and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Bring the mixture to a low simmer. Stir in the vinegar and bring the mixture just to a simmer. Strain and pour the shrub into a sealed glass jar. Keep refrigerated for up to a month.
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