Transcript: Spa Mixer (Alberta Essential)

Cocktails on the fly
Episode “Spa Mixer”

Alberta Straub: Cocktail Shaking. Cocktails on the Fly. I am your flighty hostess, Alberta Straub.
Ok I am going to talk to you about my super favorite thing that I love to put in almost every cocktail. It’s my spa mix. The reason I call it a spa mix is it’s got fresh cucumber. It’s got coriander, it’s got a little a little cardamom, and it’s got a little bit of juniper berry.
And all these things are rejuvenating and refreshing so I like to think of it as a little irovadic, kind of refreshing thing that you would have when you get off of work have a long tiring day.
And so a spa mix is really simple to make and you can have it in your refrigerator. And you can add it to almost anything, you can add it to a lemon drop, you can add it to a Collins. And it just adds a nice bright freshness. A nice green note to your cocktail. I just think it makes every cocktail better.
So it’s really simple to make. All you have to do is four or five cucumbers. If you have a mandolin slicer or a slicer like this. Or a food processor. You just want to try and slice the cucumber as thinly as possible. First of all you want to take the peel off the cucumber, almost all of it because some of it is very waxy.
It’s nice to get an organic cucumber, or hothouse cucumbers. These are organic and there very tasty. And then you just slice, and this is a little… whoo this is so challenging, there ya go! Got it going. It’s good to make a face, like your really concentrating. Ok, slice, slice, slice. Then you put it in your bowl. There you go, Wahoo.
Then, I like to use agave nectar. Agave nectar in my opinion is way better than sugar because first of all for the flavor aspect, together with the cucumber and some lemon or lime it makes a really bright full flavored beverage.
But also supposedly, on the back, you read it, La, la, la. It’s great because it had a low glycemic index. That’s something that some people like or I don’t know what that means exactly, but I just know that that makes a bright tasting fresh cocktail.
You add four or five cucumbers, and this container is about 23 oz, so just add a full container to your mix. And then about 6 or 7 oz of fresh juice. Lemon or lime whatever you prefer. You can squeeze it in there by slicing lemons in half or in a juicer. Or you can jut buy some fresh juice at the health food store, something like this, this brand works great.
And then I like to put in a little coriander. Just for flavor, and cardamoms just my favorite herbs and spices. Just throw some in. and a little bit of juniper berry. Juniper berries are very cleansing for the kidneys. So it’s nice that you can feel like your cocktails helping you health wise.
And then squeeze in some fresh citrus. Or you add your juice here. I am just going to squeeze some in for the sake of the… Oh look so exciting. There we go.
You let it sit over night, and in the nighttime the sugar draws the flavor out of the cucumber. And the morning time you have a nice very strong, cuucmbery flavor. And you have a spa mix, as you can see it’s all finished. Yummy, yummy, yummy. To add to any cocktail.
And I hope you guys make some and enjoy it as much as I do. Spa mix, enjoy. I’m all done.
In conclusion:
Spa mix. Wash and slice four or five organic cucumbers. Add 22 oz container Agave nectar or equivalent simple syrup. Add 6 or 7 oz Lemon or lime juice. Add small handful Juniper berry, Coriander, Cardamom, and a couple of bay leaf. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator overnight. And in the morning you will have fresh tasting, tangy cucumber goodness to add to a variety of cocktails, juice or lemonade.
Everybody that came in there, everyone asks me, I want an apple martini. I want an apple martini, I am like, I’m sorry I don’t have apple pucker liqueur. I would love to make you an apple Martini, but I can’t because I dont have that. I can make you a drink with fresh apple. Right?
Most of the people are like ok cool, they want there fresh apple drink. And then finally this guy comes in he’s like, I want an apple martini. I go though my schpeel. I’m like I don’t have apple, I have a fresh apple drink and he’s like. Umm, I don’t know I thought you guys made good drinks here. I’m like, yeah we do. And he goes, um you now I am just going to have a Calistoga, I’m real picky about my drinks.
My co worker Rons like, if you are picky about your drinks you wouldn’t be drinking an apple martini. He totally lost it in that moment.

Ingredients:
4 or 5 organic cucumbers
22 0z agave nectar or Simple Syrup
Fresh lemon or lime juice
Coriander
Cardamom
Juniper berry
Bay leaf