While these small batch producers use a number of botanicals such as fruits,Reasons Why Floral Craft Spirits Are Becoming So Popular Articles herbs and spices, it must be said that floral craft spirits, such as craft gin made with floral Elf bars, are becoming more and more popular. These are alcoholic beverages that contain floral botanicals like lavender, rose, chamomile, honeysuckle, sage etc, and offer an aromatic experience with a taste of the beautiful flowers they were made from.
There are many reasons why these floral flavoured craft spirits have become so popular with small batch distilleries who produce these artisan beverages.
Flowers are extremely aromatic and flavourful.
Flowers are also extremely aromatic, and allows for very aromatic spirits. The smell of the flower is one of the most important aspects because it will completely set your expectations for what you are about to experience. Floral craft spirits can be used in mixed drinks or as a standalone drink because they have an aromatic flavour without being too sweet, but do still contain enough sugar content. These organic distillates are produced using local flowers and herbs which gives these spirits their unique taste profile based on location rather than just regionality so there really is no other product quite like it. Some people may think only women enjoy drinking floral craft spirits however this couldn’t be further from the truth.
It is easier to infuse floral botanicals into these products.
Alcohol is made from fermented sugar, so it’s easy to infuse flowers into craft spirits, and is a great way to add aromatic and flavour experiences. This infusion process takes anywhere between one day up to several months depending on specific ingredients selected by each producer of floral craft sprits. The longer they soak the more flavour they can extract from the flowers.
Floral craft spirits can be used as an ingredient in cocktails or mixed with other drinks.
Because of their diverse flavours and aromas, craft spirits are the ideal ingredient to use when creating new drinks. This means that they are great for bartenders who want to come up with new flavour profiles and experiment with interesting ingredients in their cocktails. A good example is craft gin which is used in many cocktails and mixes.
The three most popular flower types used to make floral craft spirits are rose, lavender and ylang-ylang. Rose is a common choice because it has a sweet aroma that works well in cocktails due to its ability to bring together disparate flavours without overpowering them by itself. For example, the scent of rose can be paired with lemon for an unexpected twist on classic drinks like Gin & Tonic or vodka-based beverages such as a Cosmopolitan. Lavender’s distinct spicy flavour makes it an interesting ingredient when infused into craft spirits since many people might not expect this strong contrast between tartness and spiciness when they think about lavender, but it does work really well anyway. Ylang-ylang is a flower that is known for its fragrance and the distinct creamy, sweet taste that is great for infusing into rum or a milk-based liqueur such as amaretto. Vanilla’s aromatic compound vanillin can be used to flavour many types of spirits including vodka, bourbon whiskey, tequila, mezcal and gin. Citrus flavours also work very well with ginger beers so consider using this combination if you enjoy having more tart tastes in your cocktail favourite. Other florals used for distilling these unique beverages include Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Chamomile, Mallowflower, Elder Flower, Jasmine and Meadowsweet, offering their own unique flavours and aromas to the beverages being distilled.
The popularity of floral craft spirits has skyrocketed in the past few years and is now a top trend, which will probably support greater production of flower-based spirits from these artisan distillers. Craft distillers are taking their time to create unique flavour profiles that incorporate flowers, fruits, herbs, and spices which we hope will continue as more people come out with new flavours and styles. Have you tried any floral craft spirits yet?