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Cocktail History
The Pollinator’s Paradise is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created in 2023 for a cocktail tasting event at 200 Main Wine & Art Gallery in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Inspired by the wildflower fields that grow in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the recipe was meant to capture all of the floral flavors of spring and does so by using a floral vodka as the base spirit, adding in elderflower, lemon, honey, and lavender, and topping it all off with effervescent sparkling wine.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Vodka: This is a spirit made with florals, citrus, grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. I used AMASS Botanic Vodka.
Elderflower Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with elderflowers, citrus, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur.
Honey Syrup: This is a sweetener made with honey and water. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Lavender Bitters: This is a food product made with lavender buds, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Scrappy’s Bitters Lavender Bitters.
Sparkling Wine: This is a carbonated wine made with white or red grapes. I used La Marca Prosecco.
Dehydrated Lemon Wheel: This is a lemon slice that has been preserved through dehydration.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Delicate golden yellow hue
• Aroma: Fragrant floral notes accented by the earthy, herbal scent of gin
• Taste: Silky sweetness from the honey balanced by crisp citrus, bubbly wine, and the botanical complexity of gin with subtle floral undertones
• Finish: Smooth and mellow with a lingering herbal note
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: This recipe was made for a spring cocktail tasting I worked at a local wine shop, and it ended up being my favorite on the menu by far. The goal was to create a drink around the floral AMASS Vodka, and other springtime flavors were a natural fit alongside its botanicals. This really does taste like a meadow of flowers springing up from the ground as the new season breaks. I really, really loved it.”
Recipe
Pollinator’s Paradise
The Pollinator's Paradise is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created in 2023 for a cocktail tasting event at 200 Main Wine & Art Gallery in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Inspired by the wildflower fields that grow in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the recipe was meant to capture all of the floral flavors of spring and does so by using a floral vodka as the base spirit, adding in elderflower, lemon, honey, and lavender, and topping it all off with effervescent sparkling wine.
Ingredients
Method
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Add vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a lowball glass over fresh cracked ice.
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Top with sparkling wine.
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Garnish with dehydrated lemon wheel.
