I remember SanTásti waters at wine events and loved having my palate cleansed as well as the light and refreshing flavor. Now “Evo is proudly made by SanTásti Inc. in California. Evo is an all-new beverage based on the original SanTásti Formula. It is the culmination of 5 years of development in California Wine Regions and it’s the best beverage we’ve ever made.”
I wanted to try this sparkling “revitalizing water” alone, to refresh, and in a cocktail, as my job demands.
The first cocktail I was to try called for Hendricks gin. One of my favorite gins, it’s not one I would have in a gin and tonic as Hendricks not only has the traditional juniper flavoring it also had delicate nuances of cucumber and rose petal. Too good to add plain tonic to in my opinion. But to add more cucumber, and a little effervescence, this drink called out to me.
Their suggested recipe: One bottle of Evo Cucumber + two shots Hendricks Gin.
What I did to it: Equal parts Evo Cucumber to Tito’s vodka, over ice and, after I sampled the crisp concoction, I quickly sliced up an equally crisp Gala apple as a garnish. More refreshing than a gin martini or the usual gin and tonic, the evo cucumber toned down the medicinal quality of the juniper, making it much more palatable.
Evo cucumber tasted alone: OMG such a nose of freshly cut cukes! Add a little mown grass and sea air (at least that’s what memories it called up) and I was refreshed before I even drank the stuff. The taste was all cucumber: the rind, the seeds and the amazing juice. Not like a slice dropped into a glass of water, or a gallon that sat with some cut pieces, this was the whole enchilada.
