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Swill: This Aloe Vera Booze is The Best Thing We’ve Tasted in Months

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chareau aloe vera liqueur
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Swill is our bi-monthly column dedicated to liquor, wine, beer, and every other delicious dram that falls under the broader umbrella of booze. But it’s more than just tasting notes scribbled on a cocktail napkin — Swill is about getting outside of your comfort zone, trying new things, and exploring the big, wide world of libations. One week you might catch us halfway through a bottle of single-malt scotch, and the week after that we might be buzzing on some Ugandan moonshine made from bananas. This column is just one big boozy adventure, so grab yourself a glass and join us for another round.

When you think of aloe vera, you probably don’t think about eating it — let alone drinking it. It’s great for sunburns and looks great in a pot on your windowsill, but very few people ever think to put it in a drink.

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And that’s a damn shame. This juicy, desert-loving succulent has some amazing flavors going on, and in my opinion, is underrepresented in the world of spirits.

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But there’s at least one distiller in the world who aims to change that. California hoochmaker Kurt Charron has created a fantastic new liqueur called Chareau, which, in addition to a few other wonderful additives, features Aloe Vera as the main ingredient.

“The Aloe Vera plant was my muse, and I wanted to find delicate compliments to the naturally soft and slightly bitter profile,” Charron explains. “The cucumber adds a sophisticated vegetal quality, while the muskmelon brings a natural sweetness. The lemon peel adds balance and the spearmint mellows the bite of the unaged eau de vie distillate. It all culminates in a refreshing spirit that can be enjoyed both straight and mixed in a well-crafted cocktail.”

Just listen to those ingredients. Aloe, cucumber, muskmelon, lemon peel, and a slight hint of spearmint to top it all off. I defy you to find a better warm-weather drink. This stuff is practically purpose-built for summertime sipping. It works great as a mixer, but in our experience it’s best served on the rocks — other additives tend to drown out the less dominant flavors. For best results, just pour it over a fat ice cube and start drinking.

And the best part? Despite being a relatively small operation, Charron Favreau already has this stuff on store shelves on both coasts. With a little bit of searching, you should be able to track down a bottle. Check out the interactive map on the company’s website to find out where you can get your hands on one.

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