Food Know How - Green Bell Pepper Juice

Green Bell Pepper Juice

BEVERAGE DIRECTOR BRYAN DAYTON for Boulder Colorado Corrida creates cocktails using vegetables as a fun and colorful summer treat for his bar guests. The Cariño Andaluz cocktail made by his team member Alex Penny is a refreshing cocktail created for brunch and is meant to calm the senses.

“We wanted something that had depth and nutrients in it,” says Dayton. “Something soothing and replenishing. It’s a riff on the Bloody Mary with more of a green veggie focus.” According to Dayton, mint and honey are meant to bring some sweetness to the drink, and found that they added the perfect balance.

We asked Dayton for tips on working with veggies, like peppers, in cocktails. He shares, “The flavor of various peppers can vary greatly, so it is important always to taste and adjust to achieve a balanced beverage. When creating our cocktails, we try and think like a chef in terms of understanding what ingredients work best with each other. Pick spirits that blend well with the pepper: vodka because it’s neutral, gin for its diversity, and tequilas work well with pepper drinks! It's versatile. Always make sure your juice is fresh and of the best quality. Finally, shake, don’t stir!”

CARIÑO ANDALUZ

INGREDIENTS 1 ½ oz. vodka 1 oz. green bell pepper juice ¾ oz. lime juice ½ oz. honey syrup (2:1)

PREPARATION Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into coupe glass. Garnish with fresh mint sprig through a lime wheel on a cocktail pick.