Cocktail Club – Seedlip X Garden Shoots Spring Kombucha + Sage Gimlet

This week we have another two cocktails brought to you by Seedlip and Garden Shoots, the Spring Kombucha Highball and Sage Gimlet. As the art of gardening continues its pandemic-induced renaissance, Seedlip has partnered with local guided gardening brand Green Shoots to offer green-fingered Kiwis a new growing project for spring. 

Seedlip is a nature company on a mission to change the way the world drinks by solving the ‘what to drink when you’re not drinking’ dilemma with the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits. They have an incredible story, which we at Together Journal have followed closely since it burst onto the scene back in 2015. 

British founder Ben Branson launched Seedlip Spice into Selfridges in London and it was taken up with gusto! So much so that initially he could not make it fast enough to satisfy the insatiable hunger of the new Seedlip fan. His first handmade 1,000 bottles sold out within three weeks, the second thousand in three days, and the third in 30 minutes online. Since then Seedlip has only grown in popularity and can now be found in the most reputable bars and restaurants around the world. We encourage you to read their story. 

Seedlip is distributed by Nick Brown and Rebecca Caughey of Cook & Nelson here in New Zealand, the pair immediately fell in love with the Green Shoots Guided Gardening Kits when they found them online. 

Seedlip views itself first and foremost as a nature company, so we’re really excited to partner with Green Shoots. We love Katie’s vision and that she can help so many novice, time-poor gardeners and mums teaching young kids by making this as easy as possible,” Rebecca Caughey founder Cook & Nelson

Green Shoots is the brainchild of Katie Jacobs, who inherited her passion for gardening from her mother and grandmother. Jacobs launched her Guided Gardening business in 2020, with Garden Seedling Kits and other select gardening products as a way to offer people  hassle-free gardening solutions, regardless of the space and skills they have. 

She describes the kits as “almost a complete garden in a box”, with other options available, including the Fragrant Herbs & Salad Seedlings Kit, a Pick & Mix Seedlings Kit, the Leafy Green Lovers Seedlings Kit, and the Vegetable Medley Seedlings Kit. 

See below the all inclusive Green Shoots X Seedlip Cocktail Garden Kit:

The simple four-step process – prep the soil, plant the seedlings, fertilise, then water – means people can start gently harvest their herbs and flowers three weeks later. 

The kits which we think are the perfect antidote to the lockdown blues, minus the hangover, are available for Auckland delivery only and can be ordered via www.greenshoots.nz. They retail at $99.99 plus $10 delivery for 1 x bottle of Seedlip, 18 seedlings, 18 plant markers, fertiliser and the guided gardening instructions and recipes. For more information on Seedlip, see www.cookandnelson.com or www.seedlipdrinks.com. To learn more see www.greenshoots.nz

Now onto the collaboration cocktails, following on from last weeks favourites, we bring you the Spring Kombucha Highball and Sage Gimlet, both wonderful spring cocktails using garden herbs and fresh ingredients found in abundance at this time of the year.

SPRING KOMBUCHA HIGHBALL

This simple cocktail transports you with the bright aromatics of spring. The scent of fresh herbs used as a garnish
delivers a heightened sensory experience. Try to use an artisan kombucha with a natural, handcrafted flavour.

INGREDIENTS

50ml Seedlip Garden 108
200ml Kombucha – approx
Sprig fresh dill or fennel fronds
Long piece sliced cucumber 
Nasturtium flower to garnish(optional).

METHOD

Fill a glass with ice (large ice cubes look great).
Add Seedlip Garden 108.
Top with kombucha and add fresh garnishes.

SAGE GIMLET

This Sage Gimlet is a wonderful refreshing cocktail, the Sage and Pink Grapefruit work harmoniously and the colour has such a wonderful hue.

INGREDIENTS

50ml Seedlip Spice 94
40ml Pink Grapefruit Juice 15ml Lime Juice
30ml Simple Syrup (see 27for recipe)
6 Sage Leaves.

METHOD

Add all liquid ingredients along with 5 sage leaves into a cocktail shaker.
Fill with ice and shake.
Double strain into coupe glass.
Garnish with remaining sage leaf.

Felling cheeky and like you might like to give it a little alcoholic kick? Try the below:

LOW ABV: Substitute 50ml Seedlip Garden for 30ml Seedlip Garden & 20ml Gin.

Customers can then create their own cocktails from seed to lip, and while Seedlip is a distilled non-alcoholic spirit, the kits also include a couple of low alcohol recipe ideas.

The kits are available for Auckland delivery only and can be ordered via www.greenshoots.nz. They retail at $99.99 plus $10 delivery for 1 x bottle of Seedlip, 18 seedlings, 18 plant markers, fertiliser and the guided gardening instructions and recipes. For more information on Seedlip, see www.cookandnelson.com or www.seedlipdrinks.com. For more information on Green Shoots, see www.greenshoots.nz