“Is that absinthe?” my wife asked as I waved a glass of Gardenista in front of her face.
No. It’s not. It’s a ready-to-drink cocktail that is unlike any other I’ve encountered to date.
Three versions of Gardenista are available — but the bummer is that they’re all made with the same recipe: base spirit plus lime juice, green herbs, ginger, and jalapeno. (Pay attention to that lattermost ingredient.) The only switch is whether you’re getting vodka, tequila, or bourbon in the mix. All of them are very green, and they can be served straight up, on the rocks, or as part of a Spritz. I tried them all, and in a number of ways. Thoughts follow.
All three are 30 proof and come in 375ml bottles.
Gardenista Bourbon Cocktail – My first round with Gardenista found a fun combination that focuses heavily on lime, lightly caramelized syrup, and that spicy jalapeno, which tinges the lips with a touch of fiery pepper. It’s tough to pick out bourbon specifically here — though there is a vanilla-laced whiskeyness to the offering — particularly on the sweet-meets-heat finish, which ultimately comes across as somewhat honeyed. Lingering notes of green melon and spring florals provide a surprisingly refreshing denouement. A-
Gardenista Vodka Cocktail – There’s a big cucumber character on the nose here, akin to spa water. On the palate, the jalapeno feels more intense than in the bourbon expression, though there’s plenty of lime to temper it after a time. More of that cucumber dominates here, though it spars with the jalapeno notes clawing at the back of the throat. The use of vodka doesn’t leave much room for additional nuance, but if you’re looking to spice this cocktail up with something else — maybe with the addition of some other fruit juice, or when using this in a Spritz — it can work as a base. B
Gardenista Tequila Cocktail – Tequila’s a natural companion for all the greenery in the mix here, and especially the jalapeno. Again cucumber is hefty on the tongue here, which is the only thing keeping this from tasting like a well-spiced margarita. That’s not a slight, and the lightly vegetal quality works well here — however the recipe I feel could benefit from additional lime in the mix, though perhaps the creators wanted to avoid the margarita comparison too closely. Nevertheless this is a quaffable and exciting cocktail that’s easy to drink — though the slight nuance added by the bourbon version remains my favorite in all presentations. B+
each $20 (375ml) / drinkgardenista.com
Gardenista Bourbon Cocktail
$20
