Top 5 NYC Bars & Restaurants Using All-Natural Mixers
The guys over at Employees Only have really started an empire. First with this flagship bar, then Macao Trading Company, and finally their own brand of all natural mixers. The Billionaire cocktail on the menu at Employees Only uses their grenadine, made with fresh pomegranate juice and cane sugar. The drink not only looks and tastes like a billion bucks, but it will make you feel like a billion bucks, too.
The La Mikana cocktail at Macao Trading Co. is a blend of Plymouth gin, Employees Only Grapefruit Cordial, and Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut champagne. It's elegant and balanced, not in the least cloying, and works quite well with the Asian-inspired cuisine at Macao. How about some chicken and pork belly dumplings? Yes, please.
The Breslin in the Ace Hotel uses EO's Lime Cordial in their gimlet. This product is sweetened with agave nectar and made with 100 percent lime juice, and works perfectly with your choice of vodka or gin. Try Beefeater 24 or Bombay Sapphire gin in your version, and ask for it straight up. It's classic, and will make you feel like a Madison Ave. advertising exec.
If you're looking for a great quality Shirley Temple for the kiddies, or if you don't drink alcohol yourself, head on down to the Atlantic Grill (Upper East Side or Lincoln Center). They use EO's Grenadine in their version of the classic Shirley Temple. The days of artificially colored, super sweet, grenadines are over. This is the good stuff.
At Italian restaurant Zi'Pep, you can enjoy their "Bloody Monsignore", a blend of Tito's vodka and EO Bloody Mary. The drink is a nicely balanced blend of sweet and spicy. It's not overpowering, and tastes very fresh and natural. Order this as an accompaniment to any of Zi Pep's wonderful brunch menu items. You'll feel like part of the famiglia.
Honorable Mention
Powell & Mahoney, created for the at-home bartender and professional bartender alike, makes a whole line of all natural mixers. Some of our favorites include their ginger and hot toddy. Although not available behind any bars in NYC at the moment, they are widely available in your local Whole Foods market. Here's to hand-crafted products with heart and soul!
