TIPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE HOME BAR + BEEFEATER ECO CONSCIOUS COCKTAIL RECIPE

The issues of food waste and energy conservation have been hot topics in the hospitality industry for a while now, and have been culminating in the bar world as of late. @beefeatergin_us is doing its part by encouraging eco-conscious cocktail making through their #DrinkWithYourEyes campaign.

DRAGON’S RESOLVE

makes one drink

1 ounce @beefeatergin 0.5 ounce beefeater pink 2.5 ounce dragon fruit puree 1.5 ounce passion fruit tepache 0.5 ounce simple syrup (optional) *

Add all 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 petals.

Here is how i applied a sustainable ethos to the Dragon’s Resolve:

1. THINK LOCAL AND SEASONAL: I am fortunate enough to live in South Florida, where Dragon fruit grow naturally. In fact, I was able to forage this fruit from a friend’s backyard  avoiding packaging and transport.

2. RETHINK CITRUS Citrus can be one of the most wasteful ingredients when it comes to cocktails. For the purpose of this drink, I substituted the necessary acidity with a passion fruit tepache, that also adds the tropical flair to the drink.

3. REPURPOSE INGREDIENTS In this case, I used the Dragon Fruit in two ways: the puree for the cocktail and the shell for the drink vessel. I used the entire passionfruit as well, also grown locally, to create a tepache–a fermented drink most commonly made of pineapple skins.

4.RECONSIDER GARNISHES For this cocktail, i repurposed edible flower petals and pineapple leaves to add an eco-friendly aesthetic and avoiding a wasteful, over the top garnish.

5. MINIMIZE ICE To reduce wasteful overuse of ice. I blended the ingredients without ice and then used crushed ice to help with proper dilution.

6.AVOID PLASTIC The simplest way to sustainability in the area of the bar is to say goodbye to the plastic straw. If you must, consider a reusable metal, glass or bamboo straws. Similarly, replace plastic stirrers or cocktail picks, with metal or bamboo ones.

* The use of beefeater pink adds just a touch of sweetness that may allow people to avoid a sweetener all together. (additionally minimizing environmental impact caused by sugar production )

Stay tuned for additional recipes for your zero waste and sustainable home bar.