The bottle: Von Humboldt’s Turmeric Cordial, $40
The back story: Turmeric is increasingly being hailed as one of those chock-full-of-antioxidants superfoods that can cure all sorts of ills. But does the root, typically found in curry dishes, translate into an alcoholic drink?
That’s the challenge Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile, a small New Hampshire distiller known for all sorts of exotic sips (beet root vodka, anyone?) gave itself. The result is this turmeric “cordial” (or liqueur) that has just hit the market. (It can be found online here.) The Tamworth team says it was no small task, since turmeric, with its bitter and earthy notes, doesn’t exactly make for a smooth sipper. Their solution came by mixing it with a few key other ingredients — notably, coriander and lime zest — to get the right balance. (Oh, and a little sugar, too.) In that sense, this “turmeric” drink is more like a European-style herbal liqueur — think the infamous Fernet-Branca — or even a gin.
The other challenge for Tamworth? “Getting good quality turmeric in New Hampshire,” says Matt Power, one of the company’s distillers. Power adds that they’ve been able to find a source in Hawaii that ships to them.
What we think about it: We admit the current turmeric craze has slipped our attention — that is, we’ve not yet made Dr. Oz’s Turmeric Tonic, billed as “sunshine in a cup.” But we’re up for turmeric in alcoholic form. This sip does hit some interesting herbaceous notes, but it’s not quite got the depth we associate with our favorite Italian bitter drinks (like Campari or Cynar). Still, we suspect turmeric fans may take to it.
How to enjoy it: The Tamworth team says this can be enjoyed neat as a stomach-soothing after-dinner sip. But they also recommend trying it in creative cocktails. Among their suggestions is a drink they dub “The Expedition” with lemon, honey syrup and cucumber.
Read the article here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/now-you-can-enjoy-the-hottest-superfood-in-boozy-form-2017-04-14