SUSTAINABLE COCKTAILS GUIDE

Simple eco-friendly tips from the experts

TOP 6 SUSTAINABLE COCKTAIL MAKING TIPS

From growing your own garnishes

Sustainable cocktail making may be more than just using organic and fair-trade ingredients, but it doesn’t need to be much more effort. It simply involves thinking about every step of the process to see what small changes you can make – from growing your own herbs to finding clever (and tasty) uses for ‘waste’.

Here are our top tips:

1. GROW YOUR OWN INGREDIENTS

Growing your own ingredients is the ultimate way to ensure that you are using fresh, pesticide-free produce. Not only does it guarantee a more natural flavour, but it also reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting produce. Some ingredients like herbs and fruits are easy to grow in a small garden or on a balcony, and they can add a unique flavor to your cocktails.

2. USE IN SEASON, LOCAL PRODUCE

If you don’t have the space or time to grow your own ingredients, sourcing in-season, local produce is the next best thing. It reduces transportation emissions and supports local farmers. When you use local produce, you’re also more likely to get high-quality ingredients that are packed with flavour.

3. DIVERSIFY INGREDIENTS AND USE UGLY FRUIT

The cocktail industry is starting to embrace the idea of using “ugly” produce. These are fruits and vegetables that are still good to eat but are not considered attractive enough for the supermarket shelves. By using these ingredients, we can reduce food waste and lower the cost of produce. You can get creative with ingredients that you wouldn’t usually consider using in a cocktail, such as carrot tops or celery leaves.

4. THINK ANTI-WASTE

Sustainable cocktail making also involves thinking about how you can reduce waste. For example, instead of throwing away the stalks of your herbs like mint, you can make a pesto out of them – reducing food waste, while also giving you another ingredient that you can use to liven up your cocktails.

Some of our favourite ideas…

Citrus Peel: The peel of citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges can be used to make everything from citrus extract or citrus sugar. Alternatively, you can dry the peels and use them to make tea or potpourri.

Leftover Herbs: Herbs like mint, basil, and rosemary can be used in cooking or baking. Maybe try making herb-infused oils or vinegars, or add them to salads and sauces.

Fruit Scraps: If you have leftover fruit scraps, like apple cores or pineapple skins, you can use them to make a delicious fruit syrup. Simply simmer the scraps in water and sugar until they break down, then strain the mixture and use it to sweeten cocktails, tea, or desserts.

Eggshells: Eggshells can be used in gardening as they are rich in calcium and other nutrients. Crush them up and sprinkle them around plants to help fertilise the soil.

Spent Coffee Grounds: Mix spent coffee grounds with sugar or salt and use it to rim glasses for coffee-flavoured cocktails. This works particularly well for drinks with chocolate or caramel flavours.

5. EXTEND THE LIFE OF INGREDIENTS

You can save leftover vegetables, such as cucumbers, carrots, and radishes, and pickle them to use as garnishes for cocktails. Simply make a pickling liquid with vinegar, sugar, and spices and let the vegetables sit in the liquid for a few days, then strain and use as a garnish.

6. CHOOSING SUSTAINABLY SOURCED ALCOHOL

As the main ingredient in any cocktail, choosing sustainably made alcohol is a simple and surefire way to make delicious cocktails that make a difference. That’s why – from our distillery that’s 100% powered by hydroelectricity to our to our bottles that are made from 100% recycled glass – we ensure we are making sustainable waves.

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