By Jackie Zykan
With over 20 years of experience in beverage alcohol, and a love affair with the natural world, I am delighted to share some of Kentucky’s finest distilled spirits alongside fresh, local, and seasonal botanicals.
My Midwest summer memories run wild with hummingbirds, thick humidity, and the dense smell of grass cuttings drying in the sun. The song of the red winged blackbird is one I feel born knowing the lyrics to, and the magnificently bold color spectrum of zinnia flowers will forever be the wallpaper of my heart.
Featured Kentucky Product: Bourbon Barrel Foods Old Forester Hummingbird Bitters
In my work I find inspiration through sensory memories and have expressed these moments in various forms from cocktails to perfume. In a not so long ago life chapter I developed a line of cocktail bitters with Bourbon Barrel Foods doing just that. Inspired by the family focused culture of the brand I was working for, I lended my own family sensory memories to serve as profiles for the products. “Hummingbird” pays tribute to almond extract in a great aunt’s sugar cookie recipe and the warmth of Missouri summer nights. It’s a blend of flavor mementos from my grandmother’s house, who has a love for hummingbirds. Floral, citrusy, and oh-so-uplifting, these bitters bring a hint of joy to any application.
Featured Kentucky Flora: Zinnia elegans
While not necessarily a native to Kentucky (moreso Southwestern North America and South America), Zinnia flowers are a familiar summer favorite. “Zinnia” refers to the overarching genus encompassing a diverse spread of species, each with their own color combinations, shapes, and sizes. Although zinnias are edible and do have medicinal value, in this context their strength proves to be their appearance. Folk associations lean more towards intentional gifts of aesthetics, which one could easily argue is an equally important approach in a holistic view of health. Each color has its own association, but overall the zinnia has themes which transcend its individual petal hues. The flowers serve to honor ancestors, encourage warmth and affection, and are a symbol of perseverance. A fitting symbol for this month’s focus on family, Zinnia’s are a favorite of my grandmother’s house. As I watch the hummingbirds dart about my Kentucky home garden of zinnias, I can’t help but appreciate my favorite of their gifts: encouraging reconnection to the joyful lightheartedness of one’s inner child.
Hummingbird Old Fashioned
2 oz Kentucky Bourbon (90-100 proof) 0.5 oz Green Cardamom Syrup 2 Dashes/Dropperfuls Bourbon Barrel Foods Old Forester Hummingbird Bitters 1 Orange
Directions: Combine ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Stir until the sides of the glass chill. Strain over a large cube in double old fashioned glass. Garnish with a swath of orange peel, oils expressed over cocktail, and zinnia flowers. For the perfect ice to allow your garnish to take focus, local producer, Kentucky Straight Ice, can be found at assorted beverage alcohol retailers.Special notes about foraging these ingredients.
Making a mocktail of spirit-forward bourbon recipes
Spirit forward cocktails (those whose primary liquid volume comes from distilled spirits), can be tricky to recreate in non-alcoholic form. There are some wonderful alternatives on the market, but you may already have the key ingredient at home. My technique for any spirit forward bourbon cocktail is to simply omit the bourbon portion of the recipe, and replace with double strength (two tea bags per volume of water) freshly brewed, unsweetened black tea. The tannins of the tea will balance the drink and some blends can even be found without caffeine for an even more universally friendly option.
Green Cardamom Syrup
yields 8 oz 3/4 cup raw sugar 3/4 cup water Pinch of salt 8 green cardamom pods
Directions: Combine all ingredients over medium heat, bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 15 minutes. Allow to cool, remove cardamom if desired. Keep refrigerated.
Leftover Cardamom Syrup?
Cardamom is a delicious source of antioxidants that lends flavor to more than just cocktails.
Other ways to enjoy:
• Incorporate zinnia petals, ground ginger, and orange zest into your go-to cornbread recipe. Serve buttered and with cardamom syrup.
• Sweeten iced tea or cold brew coffee (even better with coconut milk)
• Top coconut milk chia pudding with fresh peach slices and drizzle with cardamom syrup.
• Substitute the usual maple syrup on pancakes (especially sweet potato pancakes!)
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