\u201cIs that absinthe?\u201d my wife asked as I waved a glass of Gardenista in front of her face.<\/p>\n No. It\u2019s not. It\u2019s a ready-to-drink cocktail that is unlike any other I\u2019ve encountered to date.<\/p>\n Three versions of Gardenista are available \u2014 but the bummer is that they\u2019re all made with the same recipe: base spirit plus lime juice, green herbs, ginger, and jalapeno. (Pay attention to that lattermost ingredient.) The only switch is whether you\u2019re getting vodka, tequila, or bourbon in the mix. All of them are very<\/em> green, and they\u00a0can be served straight up, on the rocks, or as part of a Spritz. I tried them all, and in a number of ways. Thoughts follow.<\/p>\n All three are 30 proof and come in 375ml bottles.<\/p>\n Gardenista Bourbon Cocktail<\/strong> \u2013 My first round with Gardenista found a fun combination that focuses heavily on lime, lightly caramelized syrup, and that spicy jalapeno, which tinges the lips with a touch of fiery pepper. It\u2019s tough to pick out bourbon specifically here \u2014 though there is a vanilla-laced whiskeyness to the offering \u2014 particularly on the sweet-meets-heat finish, which ultimately comes across as somewhat honeyed. Lingering notes of green melon and spring florals provide a surprisingly refreshing denouement. A-<\/strong><\/p>\n Gardenista Vodka Cocktail<\/strong> \u2013 There\u2019s a big cucumber character on the nose here, akin to spa water. On the palate, the jalapeno feels more intense than in the bourbon expression, though there\u2019s plenty of lime to temper it after a time. More of that cucumber dominates here, though it spars with the jalapeno notes clawing at the back of the throat. The use of vodka doesn\u2019t leave much room for additional nuance, but if you\u2019re looking to spice this cocktail up with something else \u2014 maybe with the addition of some other fruit juice, or when using this in a Spritz \u2014 it can work as a base.\u00a0B<\/strong><\/p>\n Gardenista Tequila Cocktail<\/strong> \u2013 Tequila\u2019s a natural companion for all the greenery in the mix here, and especially the jalapeno. Again cucumber is hefty on the tongue here, which is the only thing keeping this from tasting like a well-spiced margarita. That\u2019s not a slight, and the lightly vegetal quality works well here \u2014 however the recipe I feel could benefit from additional lime in the mix, though perhaps the creators wanted to avoid the margarita comparison too closely. Nevertheless this is a quaffable and exciting cocktail that\u2019s easy to drink \u2014 though the slight nuance added by the bourbon version remains my favorite in all presentations.\u00a0B+<\/strong><\/p>\n each $20 (375ml) \/ drinkgardenista.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t$20<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.drinkhacker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gardenista-Bottle-Shot_Horizontal.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nGardenista Bourbon Cocktail<\/h2>\n