Crazy Cocktail Alert: The Jolly Green Machine
No, this isn’t an Appletini, and it doesn’t contain any artificial coloring. In fact, this is the Jolly Green Machine, a new cocktail from Napa Valley Grille that contains sparkling lemonade, gin… and kale?
Yup. For those brave enough to try it, this cocktail offers a distinct reward. Delicately balanced, with a sweet hint of elderflower and the grassy aroma of fresh kale, this greentini is surprisingly delicious and mild. The added kale juice — made by blending fresh baby kale with a little water — looks as potent as wheatgrass juice but has a fraction of the flavor, instead adding color and that grassy scent to the drink. It’s a beverage that literally embodies spring’s fresh grass and new flowers, and it will make an excellent addition to your Earth Month cocktail repertoire.
How to Make the Kale Juice:
Add a handful of fresh baby kale leaves to a blender with a tablespoon or two of water. Blend them together until the mixture is very smooth. If it isn’t blending well, add more water.
How to Make the Jolly Green Machine Green Cocktail:
Add all the above ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake well. Strain the mixture into a martini glass and garnish with a cucumber or lemon slice.
Don’t stop here! Try these 5 vegetable cocktails in a rainbow of colors. Or get even more daring with the G-Sprout cocktail.
image: Jessica Reeder
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