Happy April! It’s National Strawberry Month, National Poetry Month, and (of course) it is Earth Month. That means we have a whole month of fresh food, sweet cocktails, and local flavors to look forward to.
It’s no April Fools, because this is the month when Chicago restaurants and bars step up their Chicago love game to provide even more locally sourced produce, brands, and even spirits. Enter the Earth Day Cocktail at Staytion Market & Bar at Renaissance Chicago Downtown.
“When I heard the news about developing an Earth Day-inspired cocktail, I was very excited to be able to showcase not only our work here at Staytion Bar, but to also shed a little light onto Chicago as a whole by utilizing a locally distilled organic spirit as the base,” says Lifestyle Mixologist Brad Stueber.
“Summer is just around the corner and I envisioned a cocktail that could be sipped while taking in the city as it awakens to a new season after the hibernation of the winter months.”
Count us in!
And in addition to this delicious drink, you can experience the Chicago Theatre District’s best street food with a local twist like Grilled Rib-Eye and Butternut Squash Ravioli plus illy coffees, and housemade pastries like Pistachio Butter Cake. It’s the perfect place to relieve the stress of the day through an intriguing ambience, exceptional service, and a taste of the local products.
That, again, includes the Earth Day Cocktail.
The O’Leary’s Cow Cocktail (another classic)
“I love using herbs and other floral flavors to provide an earthy, yet flavorful palate,” Stueber explains.
“Koval is a Chicago distillery, the city’s first since the mid-1800s, and their vodka is produced using locally sourced rye, is certified organic, and made with purified water sourced from Lake Michigan. I also used Fruitlab’s organic hibiscus liqueur, and made a sweet tea using a Chinese organic red rosebud tea. Combining these elements, along with freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh mint, make for a truly refreshing spring cocktail, worthy of Earth Day and the city of Chicago alike.”
Earth Day Cocktail
For the full recipe, read on:
Earth Day Inspired Cocktail
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1-1/2 ounce Koval vodka, made with 100-percent local organic rye, 1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1/2 ounce Fruitlab organic hibiscus liqueur, and 3-4 whole mint leaves (do not tear the mint), and shake. Pour over fresh ice in a collins glass and top with Organic Rose Sweet Tea*. Garnish with crushed rosebud and fresh mint.
*For the Organic Rose Sweet Tea: Combine brewed organic all-natural red rosebud herbal tea with organic sugar.
By Kaleigh Glaza | Online Editor
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