In true New York fashion, we walked into a space filled with beautiful greenery Tuesday night; a variety of fragrant herbs spilling from the wall to ceiling. Talk about fresh spaces! We were set to learn about the fun side of urban herb gardening – growing and selecting the perfect cocktail garnishes to make exquisite cocktails with Ketel One Vodka. Growing your own garnishes and adding a decorative touch to your cocktails is a fun side to gardening we never expected.
FarmOne, an urban vertical farm (the only of its kind) located in New York brought the greens and an aromatic herbal garden from their farm. Their hydroponic botanists guided us through discovering our individual taste profiles, suggesting combinations to heighten the flavor and color of all of our drink and dining experiences when entertaining at home. Each guest received a biodegradable party plate to snip, smell, and nibble many unique herbs, flowers, and micro-greens from the Edible Bar.
When we tell you that Farm One herbals are unique, believe us! Their purplish-bronze fennel was much more fragrant and deep in color than any I’ve experienced in an organic market! The Lemon Balm herb was incredibly floral, and blooming with citrus. These rare herbs are sought after by Farm One’s Michelin-starred clients – Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, and Chef’s Table, among others.
Farm One grow over 200 culinary herbs to date! We explored all the notes and flavor characteristics of each plant, as we made selections for the Ketel One mixologist to use in our custom cocktails.
Cocktail Guru Pam Wiznitzer then led two groups in learning out to make our own perfectly garnished Ketel One herbal cocktails! She came straight out of the gate with a PRO TIP! When mixing a cocktail, always start with the least expensive ingredients first; that way, if for any reason you need to adjust flavor, or start over, the premium ingredients do no go to waste!
In our mixed cocktail tutorial, Apple Mint was the star in the deliciously green and fresh, subtly fruit-infused cocktail. As a lover of Green drinks and pressed juice cocktails, this one is an absolute favorite. Seeking a little more green in your life? This cocktail incorporates a wide range of herbs for a surprising and light burst of flavor. See the recipe below
Ketel One Garden of Green
1.5 oz Ketel One Vodka
.5 oz Snap Pea Reduction*
.5 oz Lemon juice
Splash of soda water
5 leaves of Apple Mint
A small handful of Micro Mizuna
Tear apple mint leaves and throw in a mason jar. Add all ingredients except the soda water and add ice and cap the jar. Shake vigorously. Open and top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with micro mizuna and serve directly from Mason jar.
If your green thumb isn’t what you expected, you can always head to Farm One for their exotic herbs and edible flowers. You’ll get the tools to make a Ketel One cocktail and forget that gardening phase that never happened!
You can take a tour of Farm One‘s facilities, Manhattan’s only indoor hydroponic farm, where you can sip complimentary beverages as you taste dozens of new and rare culinary plant varieties from around the world. This sensory experience is unlike any other in New York.
