Magical Martinis: Distilled Hydrosols

Our new cocktail menu offers a selection of short aromatic martini style cocktails.

Using the hydrodistillation of leaves, fruits, flowers and other freshly harvested plant materials from the farm and gardens we create wonderfully fragrant pure botanical extracts that make the most beautiful cocktails.

These aromatic waters (hydrosols) have similar properties to essential oils but are more delicately scented, bringing the essence of the land and the season into the glass.

Mixed with vodka and perhaps a splash of something else, the hydrosols provide a little dilution (but not too much!) and their scent is carried by the alcohol as it evaporates to ensure the botanical fragrance is appreciated before the first sip.

Harvesting rosehips from the hedgerows, apples, quince and medlars from the orchards and fresh herbs such as lemon verbena, rosemary and thyme we are delighted with the results.

Rosehips always look beautiful on the bare hedgerows and provide a valuable source of food for wildlife in winter. Their rosy, shiny red fruits are rich in vitamin C and impart a pink hue with a slightly fruity lemony note.

Quince, long associated with love, beauty and fertility is regarded as Aphrodite’s fruit and imparts a slightly resinous and rosy note while apple is beautifully light and smells well, just like an apple with perhaps a little note of blossom too.

We’re not sure which one we like best. Some people love the rosehip, some the quince and some the apple, and some just can’t decide and need to try them all.

We are convinced that a little naughtiness is good for the soul so do come to the Baa Bar and help us decide, we look forward to welcoming you.