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Fresh Wedding Drinks with a Tiny Footprint
Think local, eco-focused beverages when stocking your wedding bar for tasty, earth-friendly drinks
By Anna Sachse, CTW Features
If you’re looking for a simple way to make your upcoming
wedding celebrations a little more eco-chic, think non-alco-
holic drinks.
AND WHY NOT?
You’ll likely need a selection of juices and sodas anyway,
for pairing with spirits, under-21 guests and for those who
choose not to imbibe, so why not make them extra special?
The best for the environment (but also flavor!) is fresh-
squeezed juice from organic fruit.If you live in a part of the
country that specializes in citrus, or you’re having a brunch
reception, nothing beats fresh-squeezed orange juice. You
could also offer fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, and a re-
freshing and pretty beverage made with lemons, limes,
sprigs of lavender and honey. Other organic fruit, such as
strawberries, blackberries and peaches, can be muddled for
more classic cocktails.
If you have to buy canned or bottled juices, there are many
delicious organic options available at local health food stores,
large natural-food retailers like Whole Foods and Trader
Joe’s, and even major supermarket chains. Some companies
even offer exotic organic juice flavors, like Honeydew Mel-
on, Black Mulberry and Rose Sherbet. If your nuptials are
taking place during apple harvest time, it also would be fun
to serve a spiced cider made from locally grown produce.
When it comes to soda, any fountain beverage can be con-
sidered “green” on a certain level because they aren’t sold in
individual packages, resulting in less waste.
TEAM SPIRITS
If you’re only able to serve a limited selection of spirits, which
ones are key? Vodka! It can be mixed with a wide range of
flavors and is definitely the preferred liquor variety of many.
Rum also pairs well with numerous sodas and juices, and
whiskey is great by itself but also in numerous classic cock-
tails, mixed with cola, or combined with muddled fruit, or-
ganic mint, lemon and a touch of sweetness.
Featuring organic, responsibly made spirits (yes – there’s
organic vodka!) can definitely help to “green” your bar. But
it’s also beneficial to buy locally distilled products whenever
possible as you’ll cut down on your carbon footprint – and
help boost the local economy!
Copyright © CTW Features
