TEAM SPIRITS
Top L: Lemon Balm growing in the Herb Garden. Top R: Artisan cocktail with botaical garnish Bottom L: Alan Scott, Crystal Daniels, and Lynsey Nielson in the Herb Garden. See Red Butte Garden classes and workshop schedule on page 14.
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Red Butte Garden
Have you ever looked at your cocktail glass and wondered what secrets are behind that gin and tonic? What is its origin story? What plants go in gin? What’s quinine? Can we use Utah native juniper to make gin? The answers to these questions and others will be revealed this fall at the Garden’s first in-person botanical spirits classes. Please join Alan Scott, co-owner of Waterpocket Distillery, Crystal Daniels, head mixologist at Post Office Place, and Red Butte Garden horticulturist and botanical bard, Lynsey Nielson as they imbibe in the rich history and pop culture of botanical spirits. These unique classes were some of the Garden’s most popular offerings last year as we all looked for new sources of entertainment and education during the COVID-19 shutdown. Students picked up ingredient kits designed by Crystal and then followed along online to build the featured cocktail. With their newly crafted beverage in hand, Alan and the students then took a deep dive into the world of gin, amaros, and botanical spirits. Lynsey told the stories of the legendary plants that make the spirits. With the return to in-person programming, we’re able to offer the same timeless subject matter in a new three-session format that we hope will make the classes more interesting and enjoyable. We will start at Red Butte Garden, exploring the various plants that are the ingredients of botanical spirits. The next session will be hosted by Waterpocket Distillery, where we will see the art and process of distillation in action. The last session will take place at the Post Office Place where students will have a hands-on experience behind the bar cultivating their mixologist skills. The finale—a toast to plants and the taste of botanical knowledge. Programs Director Eddy Dawson has been with the Garden for 20 years. He has a BS in horticulture and an MS in botanical informatics from Texas A&M University.
