Gardening for Cocktails: Winter Survivors
What Should We Plant in the Cocktail Garden This Year?
Spring is officially here in New Orleans, and that means it's time to get our hands dirty and plan for a fruitful (and flavorful!) growing season in the New Dawn Cocktail Garden. This small, dedicated space in our backyard is the secret ingredient behind many of our most popular seasonal drinks, and we're looking to you—our cocktail enthusiasts and green-thumbed friends—for inspiration on what to plant next!
Our goal is to stock the garden with fresh, aromatic herbs, edible flowers, and unique produce that will take our cocktail program to the next level from now until fall.
What potent botanicals, vibrant blooms, or zesty greens do you think belong in our mixing glass this year? A few ideas we're tossing around to get the conversation started:
Edible Flowers: Nasturtiums (peppery kick)
Unique Herbs: Epazote (anise, oregano, and mint notes).
Fruiting/Vining: Ground Cherries
Let us know your suggestions in the comments!
Our Three "Winter Survivors"
Before we look ahead, we have to celebrate the hardy heroes who made it through our surprisingly chilly New Orleans winter. These three perennial herbs are thriving and already contributing powerful flavor to our current menu.
Rosemary: The Aromatic Backbone
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a perennial herb known for its highly fragrant, needle-like leaves. It thrives in sunny, well-draining soil and is relatively easy to grow, making it a perfect anchor for any cocktail garden. Its flavor is piney, savory, and slightly camphorous.
This Friday, you can taste the depth of this resilient herb in our Burnt Orange Old Fashioned. If you want to bring out more rosemary flavor in the cocktail, lightly torch before serving, releasing its oils and adding a smoky, intensely aromatic layer allowing it to complement the caramelized sweetness of the burnt orange and rich whiskey base.
Sage: Earthy and Elegant
A staple herb in both the kitchen and the garden, culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) has soft, velvety, oval leaves and a distinctively earthy, slightly peppery, and pine-like flavor. Like rosemary, it prefers plenty of sun and is remarkably drought-tolerant once established.
We're already thinking ahead to Mother's Day, where the garden's sage will take center stage in the Mother's Muse. This elegant cocktail combines the deep sweetness of muddled blackberries with the sophisticated, slightly astringent notes of fresh sage, creating a perfectly balanced sipper that is as thoughtful as it is refreshing.
Thyme: A Delicate, Zesty Touch
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a low-growing, woody perennial known for its tiny, intensely flavorful leaves. It's incredibly versatile and grows well in poor soil, requiring only plenty of sunshine. Its flavor is subtly woodsy, floral, and zesty, often possessing gentle notes of lemon or mint.
For Earth Month, and as a perfect reward after a day spent tending to the new spring plantings, look for the Cover Crop Cooler in our newsletter. This refreshing beverage features thyme in a honey syrup offering a crisp, herbaceous, and incredibly rejuvenating flavor profile that perfectly captures the essence of a spring garden.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the New Dawn Cocktail Garden?
A: It is a small, dedicated space in our backyard where we grow fresh, aromatic herbs, edible flowers, and unique produce specifically for use in our seasonal cocktail program at New Dawn.
Q: What kind of plants are good for a cocktail garden?
A: We are prioritizing potent botanicals, vibrant edible blooms, and zesty greens that will enhance our mixed drinks. Examples include Edible Flowers (like Nasturtiums), Unique Herbs (like Epazote), and Fruiting/Vining plants (like Ground Cherries).
Q: What are some hardy year-round plants to include in a cocktail garden?
A: Perennial herbs that successfully overwintered and are already thriving in the New Dawn garden are Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme.
Q: How can I suggest a plant for the garden?
A: Please let us know your suggestions in the comments section of this post.
Q: How do I stay updated on the garden and new cocktail recipes?
A: Subscribe to our newsletter today to receive special cocktail recipes, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the garden, and information about the latest events and offers from New Dawn.
