Become an Organic, Eco-Friendly Bartender

With annual office parties, Christmas get-togethers and birthday bashes, the holidays and any other special occasion often call for a festive cocktail or celebratory toast. Answering the call of changing times, the market is seeing an increase in the availability of organic and eco-friendly liquor options. From using recycled materials to sustainable energy, more liquor companies are also embracing environmentally friendly practices. Today, you can easily tweak the way you party and unwind to fit your eco-friendly lifestyle. Become an earth-conscious bartender by stocking your liquor cabinet with the following selections: Juniper Green Gin – Comprised of organic grain and organic botanical herbs, Juniper Green Gin claims the honor of becoming the first organic London dry gin in the world. Since no chemical fertilizers are used in the growing process of the gin – chemical fungicides do not compromise the taste during grain storage. The unique flavor of the gin comes from a mouth-watering blend of organic juniper berries, savory, Angelica root, and coriander. Reyka Vodka – With a reputation for being the first vodka distilled and bottled in Iceland, Reyka Vodka utilizes a geothermal production facility to transform wheat and barley into an 80 proof (40% alc/vol) liquor that heightens the taste of any Appletini, Gibson or Black Russian. Outfit your bar with this clean, 'green' vodka and you'll support a company that embraces sustainable energy. 4Copas Tequila – Bottled in hand-blown glass from local Peruvian artisans, 4Copas Organic Tequila adds a decorative touch to the eco-friendly bartender's setup. The La Quemada 'Green' Distillery produces 100% organic blue agave in four different styles (reposado, anejo, blanco, and extra-anejo). The tequila not only serves as the first certified organic tequila in the world, but also markets a special-edition bottle that supports the works of seaturtles.org. Orange V Vodka – Speaking to the taste buds of citrus fans, Orange V Vodka uses a blend of Mandarin, Tangerine and Valencia Florida oranges to elevate its flavor. Thanks to farmers in the United States, the vodka is comprised of 100% organic neutral grains made in small batches – charcoal filtered after a four-column distillation process to eliminate lingering impurities. Square One Vodka – The packaging and process of making the vodka distilled from organically grown North Dakota rye involves a host of eco-friendly practices. For instance, choosing not to frost their bottles avoids the use of harmful chemicals. The company instead uses sustainably grown and renewable fiber sources (bamboo, bagasse and cotton) for the creation of easy-to-peel labels. The organic rye grain also creates minimally processed byproducts that supply organic dairy farm feed for farmers. Maker's Mark – Anyone for an eco-friendly Manhattan? Taking a page from the book of the Slow Food movement, Maker's Mark has been making strides in the world of sustainable alcoholic beverages. With a distillery located on a state-certified nature preserve, the company has implemented cutting-edge recycling and wastewater treatment practices. Most recently, the use of anaerobic digestion, which transforms waste into bio-gas for energy, means the distillery offsets up to 30% of their natural gas use. Papaguyo Rum – When making your next daiquiri, choose rum originating from organically farmed sugarcane that embraces organic, pesticide-free farming practices that ultimately help preserve the land. Earning organic certification from CCOF and the Soil Association, you can add Papaguyo Rum to your favorite fruit juice or cola in complete confidence. Available in Organic Rum and Organic Spiced Rum. Upgrade Your Barware Opt for an earth-conscious upgrade for your barware by making small changes to the way you prepare and serve alcoholic beverages during get-togethers. The ultimate arrangement for an eco-friendly bartender is Renewable Cork Barware – complete with fully cork wrapped mixer, ice bucket, wine cooler, serving tray, bartender utensils, bottle opener, and other accessories. Additional suggestions include:

• Using cotton bar towels instead of paper
• Use bamboo coasters or ones made from recycled materials
• Choose glass swizzle sticks
• Opt for bamboo or stainless steel olive picks
• Slice lemons and limes on a bamboo cutting board
• Purchase linen cocktail napkins over paper products

Image Credits: Juniper Green, Kim Seybert (cork barware)

Eco-Friendly Party Supplies

Yesterday we told you how to green your grilling for July 4th, and today we’re going to bring you some of the best green party supplies on the market. While it may be a little late to gather them all up for Saturday, you can certainly use them for the other fabulous parties you’ll be having this year! CornWare Tableware: Forget the Styrofoam plates – when you’re serving your best cheese dip or grilled veggie dish this year, use CornWare Tableware. These plates, bowls, utensils and cups are made from corn, a renewable resource. The best part is that they’re compostable. You can toss them right after the party or reuse them – it’s entirely up to you. You can get these great sets of tableware in several different colors, so matching them to your party décor is no problem! Hand Painted Garlands: Skip the balloons and streamers this year and go with something more elegant and greener. These hand painted garlands are absolutely gorgeous and can be used again and again for any kind of party. They’re festive, beautiful, and there are several different designs to choose from. The hand painted poppy flowers and dogwood flowers (shown), can be obtained for $32 a strand, which is about 6’ long. Green Table Cloths: This year, decorate your table with a festive cloth that is pretty and eco-friendly. There are a variety of tablecloths that you can choose from, so finding one that will fit in with your party decorations is easy. Green Party Goods has tablecloths that are recycled and available in just about every color of the rainbow – and also available in solid colors or bright decorative patterns. Eco-Friendly Bamboo Coasters: Save your tables or give your party guests fabulous favors with eco-friendly bamboo coasters. These coasters are 100% bamboo and measure 3.5” by 3.5” – they’ll look really cute spread around at your party so guests can use them easily. If you choose to give them as favors, you can leave them in the adorable gift box for presentation. With the amount of paper waste accumulated every year due to parties and party supplies, we all suffer. This year, when you gather around the table with your family and friends, use eco-friendly party supplies that will cause less damage to our planet!