These cocktails celebrate bees and their crucial place in the food system

A cocktail menu for the bees? That’s the case at Casa Chi by Chef Richard Sandoval, a lounge in Chicago which brings together flavors from Japan and Peru, which will feature a special menu for Earth Month called Viva Abejas. Running from March 25 to April 22, the menu highlights the important role that bees play in our food ecosystem by acting as pollinators.

The menu uses bee-centric ingredients like orange blossom honey, Alma Finca Orange Liqueur, and blood orange, found in both cocktails and food, and the program is supporting education and initiatives like The World Bee Project. You can get a sneak peek of the kinds of delicious recipes found for Viva Abejas season with the two cocktails shared below.

The first is inspired by the classic Margarita, and uses a simple syrup containing both honey and lavender. As anyone who has ever popped a pot of lavender in their garden knows, bees love it. There’s also a take on the classic Sidecar which incorporates Alma Finca orange liqueur, a Mexican liqueur made from ingredients from the Yucatan peninsula.

Honey Lavender Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. blanco tequila
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz honey lavender simple syrup (sub recipe)
• 0.5 oz créme de violette
• 0.5 oz alma finca orange liqueur
• Lime wheel
• Sprig of lavender

Ice: Regular

Glass: Rocks

Method:

1. Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice
2. Pour into rocks glass with ice
3. Garnish with lavender sprig and lime wheel

Orchard Sidecar

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Abasolo Whisky
• 0.75 oz Alma Finca Orange Liqueur
• 0.75oz Lemon Juice
• 1 dash angostura bitters
• Garnish: Sugar Rim, Orange Twist

Method: Shake

Glassware: Nick & Nora

Method:

1. Rim Nick & Nora glass with sugar
2. Build in shaker & shake with ice
3. Strain into Nick & Nora glass, garnish with orange twist