Health-conscious cocktails are de rigueur these days in coastal Orange County. Coconut water-splashed gin and tonics, red beet juice vodka cocktails and black sesame-infused spirits dusted with matcha powder all sound interesting. But are they any good? Would you order another one?
That was the main motivation for Anthony Laborin, cocktail guru at Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens. “Once we got the Bambucha kombucha on tap, everyone asked for me to turn it into a cocktail,” recalls Laborin. Finally, he gave in to the pressure and started experimenting. But how could he make a great drink – and not just another gimmick?
Laborin followed the lead of Farmhouse’s chef/owner Richard Mead. Each week, he accompanied the chef on his farmers market shopping excursions. That’s how Laborin stumbled onto Sea Wind Farms’ juicy passion fruit. The under-the-radar Fountain Valley farm delivers crates to the restaurant now. Next, Laborin decided to extend the life of this treasured fruit by infusing Peychaud’s Aperitivo with it. Blinking Owl Aquavit from Santa Ana is sweetened with a drizzle of honey syrup. A splash of fresh-squeezed lemon brings it all together with a punch of citrus.
The sublime cocktail is smooth but packs a punch. Hence the name: Mamma Needs a Nap. “Because after a few of these, you’re sure going to pass out,” jests Laborin.
MAMMA NEEDS A NAP
½ ounce lemon juice
½ ounce honey syrup
1 ounce Blinking Owl aquavit
1½ ounce Jardesca Rouge
1½ ounce passion fruit-infused Peychaud’s Aperitivo
METHOD:
Build ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake.
Top with kombucha. Serve in a martini glass.
Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, 949.640.1415 :: farmhouserg.com