A new bubbly and bright canned cocktail from Ketel One, dubbed Botanical Vodka Spritz, is blooming with real botanicals and has expanded its launch to 11 new states, including Louisiana. The 73-calorie cocktail has no carbs, no added sugar, no artificial flavors or sweeteners and is made from 100 percent non-GMO grain. The Ketel One Botanical Vodka Spritz is available in three award-winning Ketel One Botanical varietals: Peach & Orange Blossom (lush peaches and bold notes of orange blossoms); Cucumber & Mint (refreshing cucumbers and herbal tones of fresh garden mint); and Grapefruit & Rose (zesty grapefruit combined with the fragrance of rose petals).
Urban South’s New Beer Releases
Local brewery and tap room Urban South is rolling out a bevy of new seasonal brews and weekly small batch releases. Strawberry Shortcake Snoball Juice was released in April, and Pina Colada Snoball Juice will be released in June. Also in April, Urban South released Rocket Pop Gose as the new summer seasonal beer that will be available through July. The traditional German Goes-style beer features sweet cherry, blue raspberry and tart lime flavors. To celebrate the brewery’s fifth anniversary, Urban South also is rolling out 15 collaboration brews over five weeks (that started in April). The small batches are all available in limited quantities and include fun options like Disco Ball Dreams. 1645 Tchoupitoulas St., 267-4852, Urbansouthbrewery.com.
Metairie’s New Speakeasy
Last November, Metairie welcomed Blue Ruin Speakeasy offering craft cocktails in a swanky yet laid-back space. The dark and lush interior features deep navy walls and an accent wall of navy and copper wallpaper. A restored antique mantle (circa 1890) sits opposite a white quartz bar. Meanwhile, the ceiling has copper tiles with copper accents throughout. Fun touches include Prohibition-era photos along with old prescriptions for alcohol; a telegram from the police about Al Capone running his business from his jail cell; and the first patent for a cocktail shaker. Try the smoked Old Fashioned that’s made with an actual stave from a used bourbon barrel. Another popular drink is the Pink Tiger Claw, made with gin infused with cucumber and grapefruit, and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. A new Spring/Summer menu features all the classics along with some fresh new options. Now that the weather is warm, it’s the perfect time to try out a few cocktails on the front or back patio space. 3224 Metairie Road, 835-3335, Blueruinspeakeasy.com.
Southern Comfort Black Recognized as Gold Medalist
The Sazerac Company’s Southern Comfort Black recently won a Gold Medal at the 2021 World Whiskies Awards, presented by “Whisky Magazine.” A complement to Southern Comfort Original, Southern Comfort Black was originally introduced by Sazerac in 2019 to offer fans a more robust, whiskey-forward profile. The liquor, with its subtle spicy and fruity accents, competed in the Flavored Whiskey taste category. 101 Magazine St., 866-729-3722, Sazerac.com.
Berry Picking on the Farm
The Les Dames d’Escoffier New Orleans chapter and their families will be gathering on May 23 at Ridemore Berry Farm in Covington for a day of berry picking, beginning at 10 a.m. Pay for what you pick and enjoy a picnic lunch from Lola, a local Dames-owned restaurant. For more information and pricing, contact Kathy Litchfield at klitchfield00@gmail.com.
