Cultivate Your Own Alcoholic Beverage Components: Establish a Cocktail Garden for Naturally Fresh Mixes
A cocktail garden is a delightful addition to any outdoor space, offering not only fresh ingredients for your favourite cocktails but also a sensory-rich environment filled with aromatic blooms and colourful garnishes. Here's a guide to creating the perfect cocktail garden for your home.
Herbs are essential for adding freshness and aromatic flavours to your drinks. Basil, with its essential aromatic flavour, is a must-have for creating fresh basil gimlets. Oregano, with its bold, slightly spicy note, is another popular choice. Chives bring a subtle oniony freshness, while Calamint (Calamintha nepeta) adds a minty-scented foliage with tiny purple flowers, perfect for garnish and floral notes. Mint, classic in mojitos, mint juleps, and more, is a staple in any cocktail garden. Thyme and rosemary, with their woody herb aroma, complement many citrus-based or gin cocktails.
Fruits and fruit plants are also crucial for a cocktail garden. Lemon and lime trees or bushes are essential for their juices in many cocktails. Berries, such as strawberries and raspberries, can be used fresh or muddled for a sweet, tangy flavour. For those who enjoy a bit of spice, peppers can add both spice and bold colours to your cocktails.
Edible flowers are perfect for garnishes and infusions. Nasturtiums offer a peppery flavour and bright colour, while pansies are mild and colourful garnishes. Violets have a sweet floral flavour, and calendula adds a subtle spicy flavour. Sweet Pea flowers provide a delicate and delicious scent, great for garnish, and passionflower offers an exotic appearance and varied fragrances. Climbing Hydrangea and Honeysuckle are ideal for scent and visual appeal near your cocktail garden seating, while Purple Hyacinth Bean and Morning Glory are attractive vines with pleasant fragrances.
To ensure a vibrant and practical cocktail garden, it's important to group plants according to their cultural needs. Plant partners with matching sun requirements should be placed together in the garden. Some cocktail garden plants, like parsley and honeysuckle, need plenty of water, while others, like rosemary and lavender, prefer hot and dry conditions.
A garden special G&T can be made by adding fruits or herbs from the cocktail garden to a gin and tonic. For example, strawberries work well as an addition to a garden special G&T. A Vietnamese mojito can be made by adding lemongrass and homegrown ginger to a traditional mojito recipe.
A cocktail herb garden can include annuals, perennials, edible flowers, shrubs, vines, and even trees. Rosemary offers a deep, woody flavour that complements bourbon in a whiskey sour. A cocktail garden may also include fruits like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and any fruit tree.
Herb-infused syrup can be made by simmering sugar, water, and herbs or fruits for 15 minutes, then straining and cooling. This syrup can be used to enhance the flavour of your cocktails.
Teo Spengler, a master gardener and docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, emphasizes the importance of a well-planned cocktail garden. With careful planning and the right selection of plants, you can create a beautiful and practical space that provides fresh ingredients and enhances the flavour of your cocktails.
[1] [Cocktail Garden: Grow Your Own Garnishes](https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/how-to-grow-cocktail-herbs.htm) [2] [Cocktail Garden: Growing Your Own Garnishes](https://www.thespruce.com/cocktail-garden-growing-herbs-for-drinks-3157883) [3] [Queen's Garden Martini](https://www.thespruceeats.com/queens-garden-martini-2267395) [4] [Edible Flowers for Your Cocktails](https://www.thespruceeats.com/edible-flowers-for-cocktails-2267388) [5] [Cocktail Garden: Growing Your Own Garnishes](https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/how-to-grow-cocktail-herbs.htm)
Incorporating a variety of plants in your cocktail garden can elevate both its visual appeal and the flavors of your beverages. For instance, basil and mint are suitable for adding freshness to your drinks, while edible flowers like violets and calendula provide a delightful garnish. Additionally, home-and-garden favorites such as herbs-and-food can be used to create homemade infusions like herb-infused syrup, enhancing the overall taste of your food-and-drink creations.
