Why Grow Your Own Cocktail Ingredients

Growing your own cocktail ingredients can add a touch of elegance to your summer gatherings. With a few easy-to-grow herbs and plants, you can create unique and delicious cocktails that will impress your friends and family.

Tips for Growing Mint and Other Flavorful Herbs

Mint is the easiest herb to grow. It’s so easy it may take over your garden if you aren’t careful, so plant it in a pot and keep the pot away from the soil. Place the pot in full sun and water it regularly. In a few short weeks, you’ll be able to pluck its leaves to liven up your lemonade or mint julep.

• Mint is available in several varieties, including spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint, pineapple mint, and apple mint.
• Experiment with different varieties to find the one that suits your taste preferences.
• Keep the pot away from the soil to prevent mint from taking over your garden.

If you want to get creative, experiment with a few different varieties. My favorite is spearmint, but peppermint is classic. Chocolate mint, pineapple mint and apple mint each have their charms, named for the scents and flavors they impart. There’s even a specialty variety called Cuban mint, an authentic choice for mojitos. Choosing the Right Variety

• Genovese basil is a popular variety that pairs well with tomatoes and other ingredients.
• Lemon and cinnamon basil varieties add a unique twist to cocktails.
• Remove flower stalks to prevent the leaves from turning bitter.

Basil, too, is available in several cocktail-worthy varieties. Genovese, the Italian variety often paired with tomatoes, works equally well in beverages, as do lemon and cinnamon varieties. Plant them in full sun and provide water, but account for your climate and take care not to over- or underwater them. Remove flower stalks, if they appear, to prevent the leaves from turning bitter.

Lemon Verbena and Other Herbs

Lemon verbena is a fragrant herb that pairs well with gin and tonic, sparkling water, or other cocktails. Most herbs don’t usually require supplemental nutrients, but lemon verbena benefits from monthly applications of organic liquid fertilizer.

• Lemon verbena requires regular watering, but overwatering can lead to root rot.
• Water plants when the soil begins to dry out.
• Remove flower stalks to prevent the leaves from turning bitter.

When I have guests, I often muddle sage leaves with 1 ounce each of vodka and ginger liquor, then add to a glass with 4 ounces of ginger beer, and pineapple and lime juices to taste. It’s as simple as can be — and just as impressive. Harvesting Herbs

For the most concentrated flavor, harvest herbs in mid-morning, after the dew has dried but before the sun gets too hot. In my garden, that means around 10 a.m. Place them, stem side down, in a glass of water indoors, out of direct sunlight, until happy hour.

Other Ingredients to Grow

Don’t forget the strawberries and cucumbers, both mandatory components of a proper British Pimm’s cup, one of my favorite summertime cocktails.

• Strawberries are a great addition to cocktails, and they come back every year in horticultural zones 4-9.
• Cucumbers are a refreshing addition to cocktails, and they can be grown in most climates.
• Combine strawberries and cucumbers with mint and lemon-lime soda for a refreshing cocktail.

For the most concentrated flavor, combine thinly shaved cucumber, sliced strawberries, mint, and a few sliced mandarin rounds in a highball glass. Add 1 1/2 ounces of Pimm’s No. 1 liquor and 4 ounces of lemonade or lemon-lime soda.

Spicy Cocktails

If you like your drinks spicy, muddle a red-ripe slice of jalapeno with lime juice and pour a shot of tequila over it, then add your choice of mixer. Or drink it straight. I’m not judging you. I’m just the garden lady.

Conclusion

Growing your own cocktail ingredients can add a touch of elegance to your summer gatherings. With a few easy-to-grow herbs and plants, you can create unique and delicious cocktails that will impress your friends and family. So why not give it a try? Start by growing your favorite herbs and experimenting with different recipes. Happy gardening!