Seductive Sips for your Sweetie! Square One Botanical Organic Spirits

This Valentine's Day start with something special for your sweetie! Square One Botanical is the perfect seductive & sustainable sip. This unique spirit is made from organic rye infused with a striking blend of eight organic botanicals - pear, rose, chamomile, lemon verbena, lavender, rosemary, coriander and citrus peel. Who knew such a bizarre blend of botanicals could be so tantalizing on the tongue?

About Square One

Square One is a pioneer in organic spirits, and a progressive female-owned boutique spirits company with the sole mission of creating innovative organic spirits with an eco-conscious mindset. Made from 100% organic American-grown rye and pristine water from the Teton Mountains. Square One® Organic Vodka is made from American rye grown on certified organic farms in the cold northern planes of the US; an area long known for the quality of its rye grain. Square One Botanical is USDA certified organic.

Square One’s business philosophy includes seeking out sustainable choices in all parts of the business. Just a few examples include using soy inks, tree-free face labels, vegetable based transparent side labels, and designing a bottle that is stylish enough to be reused.

Square One's Tasting Notes

On tasting Square One Botanical, the floral and fruit aromas immediately capture the senses. On the palate, the supple floral character is followed by herbal botanicals that offer backbone, yet stay gently in the background. Consistent with Square One’s house style, the spirit is delicate and balanced; no one botanical dominates.

Our Review:

Such a fine infusion of ingredients makes this delectable drink dark and mysterious with a naughty little bite. It has a sweet fruity and light floral aroma with a clean, unique & delicate herbal finish leaving you wanting more.

Square One's "Botanical Lemon Drop" is sure to get your partner to pucker up!

2 oz. Square One Botanical
1/2 oz. fresh organic lemon juice
1/2 oz. organic agave nectar
1/2 bar spoon of Absinthe

Pour absinthe into a chilled cocktail glass, swirl to coat the glass and shake out excess. Pour all other ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake hard and strain. Garnish with lemon twist.

Check out more recipes at Square One

Square One Botanical is available nationwide and online.

Visit squareonevodka.com for more info.

Bring on the Bonterra! Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Organic Wine

About Bonterra

Bonterra’s name literally means "good earth" and the winemakers at Bonterra agree that when the vineyards are healthy and full of life, the grapes are just naturally more flavorful. An award-winning wine, Bonterra’s grapes offer a quality of fruit and vibrancy of taste that are unparalleled in the world of ordinary wines. 

The first vintage of Bonterra was released in 1993, and Bonterra has been a pioneer in biodiversity and sustainable practices ever since. Bonterra is proud to be the world’s leading producer of wines made from certified organically grown grapes and its wine-makers are diligent in their organic grape farming practices which include:

Natural Pest Control: Birdhouses are placed strategically around the ranch to attract bluebirds and swallows which consume unwanted insects. Free-range chickens also play a role in devouring cutworms and insect pests in the vineyards. The chickens are released in between the rows of vines to eat the "bad bugs" and also fertilize the soil as they roam. Nectar-rich plants like red clover and echinacea, attract beneficial insects that protect Bonterra’s vineyards from pest infestation.

Soil Management: Cultivation is practiced to regulate competition for nutrients and relieve soil compaction from normal farming operations. As an organic product, Bonterra does not use any artificial fertilizers or synthetic chemicals.

Biodiversity: Bonterra ranch’s amazing diversity is an important contributor to the quality of its organically grown wines. You’ll find more than grapes on Bonterra’s ranch from chickens and sheep grazing on the vineyards grass to lavender plants and wildflowers, Bonterra’s winemakers believe that a wide array of diversity creates a web of natural balance where all elements can thrive. 

Cover Crops: Yellow mustard is one of many cover crops grown and plowed into the rich soil of Bonterra ranch. Cover crops help in pest management and also enrich the soil, providing excellent root health for the vines.

Composting: The typically heavy clay soil of the region is lightened with compost created at Bonterra ranch.

Packaging: Bonterra uses recycled glass, a hemp label and soy ink on its package.

Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Organic, Biodynamic

Bonterra's Cabernet Sauvignon blends Merlot and Syrah with traces of complementary varietals to expand its flavor and texture. Aged 18 months in French and American Oak, the wine offers hints of pepper, cedar and fragrant vanilla spice to complement its lush and fruit-centered personality. Contains 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah and 2% Merlot. Biodynamic fruit from estate McNab and Butler ranches are featured.

Winemaker's Notes - This Cabernet offers aromas of Bing cherry, currant, raspberry with spicy notes of cedar, dried cranberry and vanilla. In the glass, you will find juicy red berry flavors and a very approachable, rich and full mouth with a lingering and thoughtful finish. Good structure and polished, yet soft tannins promise an ever more pleasing wine to come, with lively acidity and subtle spice. This is a Cabernet which will continue to evolve and remain enjoyable for quite some time to come.

Our review - We paired this wine with wild caught Steelhead trout topped with organic sundried tomatoes, wild capers, olives, lemon, and garlic sauteed in olive oil and finished with fresh parsley. This pairing was pleasing to the palate pronouncing the lively acidity, subtle spices, heartiness, and cedary scent. A very enjoyable wine, at a very affordable price!

Bonterra, made in Mendocino County, California, has several varietals including: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Viognier which retail for approximately $15. For more information, visit bonterra.com.

Source: Bonterra

Magnanimus Wines Organic & Biodynamic + Exclusive Discount

Gather good friends, gourmet food, and some organic, biodynamic, sustainable wine from the Magnanimus Wine Group. We tried two of their domestic & divine wines, Mendocino Farms 2004 Redvine Series and Old River Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, that will surely be a hit at any soirée.

About Magnanimus Wine Group

The Magnanimus Wine Group came out of a common awareness of the opportunity to combine progressive, sustainable wine growing and making with the legacy of Mendocino’s eco-friendly traditions. Each of the principals has years of experience working in the green wine business honing their knowledge at leading biodynamic, sustainable and organic farms. Ultimately, they came together to steer a company dedicated to producing authentic and distinct wines that reflect not only a sense of place, but also the highest standards of quality and environmental stewardship.

Mendocino Farms 2004 Redvine Series - Organic, Biodynamic

Winemaker's notes - The name of this proprietary blend comes from the soil type common to the two source vineyards, Heart Arrow and Fairbairn Ranches, set along the upper Russian River watershed in Mendocino County, California. Both of these ranches are Demeter certified Biodynamic.

The 2004 Redvine Series consists of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Sirah, and 10% Syrah. Each vineyard block is hand-harvested. The Grapes were fermented, barrel-aged separately in select French oak for 14 months and then blended prior to bottling. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides rich flavors of black cherry, plum and important tannin materials that are softened by the addition of Syrah. The Petite Syrah adds ripe black fruits, density and is highlighted by all three varietal contributions to its complex aromatic structure.

Our review - Don't be fooled by the low-key label, this wine really stands out. It features distinct notes of black cherry and plum along with a subtle spiciness as its dark garnet color conjures. It is a very smooth, drinkable, food-friendly wine that pairs well with many plates.

Old River Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Ponderosa Vineyard - Organic

Winemaker's notes - This medium bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is produced of grapes from the Ponderosa Vineyard located at 1900 foot elevation along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The high elevation vineyard site yields fruit with unique tannin and flavor profiles that contribute to compelling notes of dark fruits and earth in this well balanced wine.

The 2005 Cabernet is comprised of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc and is barrel aged in high quality new French oak barrels for 8 months prior to blending and bottling to provide a well-structured complex pallet.

Produced from Organically Grown Grapes of the Ponderosa Vineyard, certified Organic by CCOF since 1994.

Our review - This wine is truly a gem, deep ruby in color, it's harmonious, bright & lively with a lovely linger. The pleasing aromas have a hint of toasty vanilla oak. But be forewarned, you'll barrel through this bottle before you know it - it's that good!

Exclusive Discount

Enjoy 15% off all wines at the Magnanimus online wine shop until December 31, 2009, use promo code OrganicGurus2009. Their gift packs are perfect for the greenies on your gift list!

Source: Magnanimus Wine Group

Sexy Sips for a Glam Green Soirée - Organic, Shaken & Stirred Book Review

Throwing an eco-chic cocktail party? The new book Organic, Shaken and Stirred by Paul Abercrombie is a must-have for the novice to the master mixologist. Paul introduces you to a new world of glamorous green drinks from the hottest restaurants along with his own creations. You'll learn how to set up and source organic ingredients for your green bar. The hardcover book features 100 eco-friendly recipes that are fresh, hip and intriguing with creative combinations that can be infused with ingredients found in your own garden. The gorgeous color photos, easy to follow recipes, and handy size (printed on recycled paper, of course) will inspire you to mix up some magic.

About Paul

Paul Abercrombie is a public relations consultant and writer who contributes regularly to Gourmet, Wine Enthusiast, Men’s Health, The Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, ESPN magazine, and other publications, writing on the topics of food, drink, and travel. He lives in Tampa, Florida.

Organic, Shaken and Stirred: hip highballs, modern martinis, and other totally green cocktails is available at amazon.com

Here are some resources to get you started:

Organic Gin

CapRock

Organic Nation

Organic Liqueurs

Loft Liqueurs

ROOT

Thatcher’s Organic Artisan Liqueurs

Mixers, Sweeteners and Other Ingredients

4 Copas

Fever Tree

Lakewood Organic Juices

Modmix Beverages

Coombs Family Farms (organic maple syrup)

Q Tonic

Simply Organic Foods

Sweetfields (edible organic flowers)
Wholesome Sweeteners (organic agave)

Organic Cachaca

Cuca Fresca

Organic Tequila

4 Copas

Casa Noble

Republic Tequila

Tequila Tierras

Organic Whiskey

Da Mhile

Benromach

Organic Vodka

Akvinta Vodka

Organic Nation

Peak Spirits

Purus

Rain Vodka

Square One

TruOrganic

Vodka14

Wines

Bonterra Vineyards

Frey Vineyards

Magnanimus Wines - save 15% until December 31, 2009, use code OrganicGurus2009

Drink Responsibly - Drink Organically!

Vodka 14 Raising the Bar - USDA Certified Organic Vodka

This holiday season, stocking your bar with high caliber chemical-free cheers is a cinch. One company raising the bar with boutique organic spirits is Vodka 14. According to their website, "Vodka 14 is a strikingly pure, craft distilled vodka from the Rocky Mountains. Vodka 14 is USDA Certified Organic, made exclusively from the finest organic grain and Rocky Mountain spring water and distilled to achieve a remarkable smoothness and taste." But do their statements live up to the Organic Gurus standards?

About Vodka 14
Vodka 14 is distilled and bottled at the foot of the majestic Teton range by Altitude Spirits, an independent spirits company based in Boulder, Colorado and run by the father-and-son team of Mitch and Matthew Baris. Mitch and Matthew have revived a tradition of vodka distillation running back five generations in their family to their Eastern European antecedents. With Vodka 14, Altitude Spirits set out to prove that craft quality can set a benchmark for purity and taste unrivaled by mass-market brands.

Taste

First we chilled the bottle in the freezer and tested it unadulterated, straight up, without ice. Typically, straight vodka can make one cough and finish with a burn. Not so with Vodka 14, it was crisp, clean and did indeed have "a remarkable smoothness and taste", even a subtle sweet note of licorice could be detected.

Then we mixed up a dirty martini with Divina organic olives... hands-down, it's the best dirty martini to date!

Vodka 14's Wicked Dirty Martini Recipe

A savory take on the classic: Shake 3 ounces of Vodka 14 with ice. Add up to a tablespoon of olive brine, to taste, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a generous skewer of pimento stuffed olives and finish with a generous coarse grind of fresh black pepper.

Price

Those who think organic is a splurge, organic ≠ $$$, check out this price comparison of organic vs. conventional vodkas. Vodka 14 is competitively priced with leading conventional brands.

Organic (750 ml)
Vodka 14, $34.99
TRU, $34.99
Square One, $35.99

Conventional (750 ml)
Grey Goose, $38.99
Skyy, $39.99

Belvedere, $32.99

Organic Gurus Scoop

• Taste: ultra smooth, crisp & clean, burn-free finish
• Packaging: the bottle, safety seal and closure, are all 100% recycled and recyclable
• Price: competitive with mainstream vodkas
• Bonus: made in the USA

Cheers!

source: vodka14.com

Uber Eco Organic Essence Shea Cream in a Compostable Jar

Need hand and body moisturizing to the max? Made with shea butter, known to increase the skin’s capillary blood flow, Organic Shea Cream provides lasting skin softening wherever you need it. Organic Shea Cream is a powerful all over body moisturizer that doubles as an excellent massage cream and make-up remover.

Organic Grapefruit should be on your "best friend’s skin list" as it’s well known to be an anti-aging skin detoxifier. Like most citrus aromas, the fragrance evokes a feeling of euphoria and is most useful for its invigorating tonic purposes. When life finds you dragging your feet, reach for the grapefruit cream.

Packaged in an eco-responsible biodegradable organic jar. Even the label is eco-friendly, no need to peel off. Don’t worry about the adhesive, it’s organic, too.

Benefits:

• USDA certified organic
• Fairly traded shea butter
• 100% sustainable ingredients
• Highly concentrated - maximum moisturizing
• Not chemically or heat processed
• No water or fillers, questionable chemicals, preservatives, parabens, artificial fragrances
• No animal testing

Eco Packaging:

• No plastic
• Printed with pure soy ink on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Post Consumer Waste (PCW), 100% recycled paper
• Label is affixed with organic adhesive and glaze
• Completely biodegradable
• Safe for home composting

Organic Gurus Scoop:

• Scent: the grapefruit scent is light & lively
  
• Texture: thick & rich but easy to apply, feels & looks more like a salve or balm than a cream
• Color: golden yellow
• Results: moisturizes well, gives skin a light sheen

Available in Lavender, Lemongrass Mint, Vanilla Orange, Grapefruit & Pure Shea Butter

Combat-Ready Balm by Skincando

Combat-Ready Balm is a concentrated skin salve that relieves and heals damaged and inflamed skin. Severe dryness, minor abrasions, post-shaving burn, diaper rash, scars, bug bites and sun/wind burn are no match for this powerfully soothing balm. Each batch is handmade with organic ingredients to boot!

Used & revered by U.S. troops stationed in Iraq this power packed balm relieves their sand-flea bites and wind burn.

Skincando's Combat-Ready Balm was created by Sara Damelio. Sara regularly donates care packages containing Combat-Ready Balm to American troops.

The Skincando line also includes the Combat-Ready Bar Soap and Combat-Ready Lip Balm. Available at organicgurus.net

Watch Sara in Action...

Bye Bye Barbasol, Bring on the Bronner's!

Dr. Bronner's Certified Organic Baby Shaving Gel

It's syrupy at first but lathers up nicely, yet it's somewhat translucent which we found was an added bonus. The unexpected brown sugar color of the gel has a hint of a gingerbread cookie scent, although it is labeled as an unscented product. The result was a smooth shave, very gentle, no stinging and best of all no chemicals. It's available in 4 other scents too, but the fragrance free is the best bet for sensitive skin. Dr. Bronner's shaving gel earns its space on our shelf.

Tip: store the bottle on its side rather than upright, and give it a good shake before you shave, as the ingredients may separate under certain conditions. Get Dr. Bronner's Organic Baby Mild Shaving Gel