It seems like everywhere you look, organic options are springing up. Food, clothing, and now even alcoholic beverages have organic counterparts for you to explore, and we highly recommend you do. Organic food, drink, and alcohol are all great options for the health-conscious consumer—we’re guessing that’s you, if you’re reading this.
If you’ve begun to explore the benefits of an organic lifestyle, you may be wondering what organic alcohol is and why our team at Flying Embers is committed to brewing it. Well, wonder no more. Here’s the skinny on organic alcohol.
What Does Organic Mean?
The word organic is so ubiquitous it can be hard to know what it means anymore. However, for foods or drinks to be deemed organic, they have to meet the Department of Agriculture’s regulations for organics on top of being regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
To achieve “certified organic” status, products must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. They must also use production methods that don’t give off pollution residues, including pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals that can increase the risk of cancer and other health risks.
In terms of what buzzy drinks you’re choosing, not all organic alcohol is the same.
Wine, for instance, sometimes has added sulfates which can be considered additives if they’re not naturally occurring. To offset this, a wine might use 100-percent organic grapes and limit the sulfate count. Other countries have different requirements to be considered organic, so keep your eyes peeled on where your wine, beer, or liquor was bottled.
Why Choose Organic?
The organic trend is catching on because people are starting to reconsider what they put into their bodies. You’ve seen salads offered at fast-food chains and fast-casual vegan places pop up faster than dandelions in spring; it all points to consumers shifting commitment to health and wellness.
While organic wine has been around for quite some time, other types of organic alcohol have appeared in recent years as people look for better blends to sip after a long day.
At Flying Embers, we are all about fitting into your lifestyle, however you choose to live it. It’s why our organic recipes are lighter, brighter, and audaciously bolder, creating combinations that feel as good as they taste. We attribute the uplifting drinking experience of our blends to our organic ingredients (and, of course, our rich botanical flavors and stunning adaptogenic blends).
Taste the Difference
If you’ve tried a new organic food or recipe, you’ve likely noticed the difference in taste. It’s like the difference between picking something fresh from your grandma’s garden and grabbing something out of the bin in your local chain grocery store. The difference is usually pretty profound. There’s just more impactful flavor in organic produce.
You can trace the difference in taste back to sourcing from family farms and small growers, who don't use harsh chemicals like pesticides in their practices. You can apply the same logic to organic drinks. Most people will agree that organic beer, wine, and cocktails are brighter, more aromatic, and more flavorful. So fresh, so clean.
The organic botanicals used in brews like Grapefruit Thyme hard kombucha and Pineapple Chili hard seltzer feel as good as they taste. Our blissful blends are all organic, all the time.
What’s Organic Worth?
Some people hear organic and immediately think of the exorbitant prices they see at the supermarket on organic produce. Or their weekly ad with an organic food & drink section. It’s true; the price of organic booze tends to be a bit higher. This is because conventional alcohol can cut costs by mass-producing many of its ingredients. But we like to think of organic food and booze as an investment in the environment.
Buying organic supports small, local farms and farmers, and it avoids fueling big alcohol distributors with large environmental impacts. Many small farmers are closer to the soil they toil and make it a part of their business to give back to the land. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why we created our nonprofit, the Embers Foundation: to give back.
When we started to craft our bold, imaginative flavors with a modern function, the 2017 Thomas Fires threatened to destroy everything we had built. Humbled by our experience, we created our foundation to dedicate 1% of all company sales to address first responder and community needs nationwide.
We believe that what we do can transform our plant, whether for good or for bad, which is why we’re committed to fully organic ingredients, why use sustainable packing, why we started the Embers Foundation… The list goes on. We want to give back to the land that gives our organic blends so much.
So yes, you may pay a dollar or two more than the non-organic big-name brand, but in doing so, you are helping farmers and positively impacting the world around you. Plus, you’re getting a complex, brilliantly botanical taste in each can.
Why Is Organic Better for You?
Okay, we’re the first to admit that drinking alcohol has little to no nutritional value. Still, alcohol made with organic ingredients has an upside.
Organic ingredients aren’t made with harmful pesticides or chemicals the way non-organic ingredients often are. So, if you’re trying to steer clear of pesticides (and considering they’re literally designed to kill, it might be a good idea), organic alcohol is the move.
The major takeaway is to enjoy organic alcohol the same way you should enjoy regular alcohol; in moderation.
A Word on Hangovers
Since organic wine has been around for a while, rumors have swirled like wine in a glass about its magical ability to give you diminished hangovers. This is, unfortunately, not quite true.
Some research suggests that a drink free of added chemicals may cause less of a headache come sunrise, but the best protection remains to mix in a few glasses of water and drink responsibly.
Flying Embers Hard Beverages
Here at Flying Embers, we pride ourselves on our handcrafted hard beverages made for a lighter, brighter buzz. Brewed with organic ingredients, whole plant botanicals, superfruits, and adaptogens, you won’t find better booze anywhere else. Crack open a can and see the difference a consciously-crafted brew can make.
Sources:
Hangovers and Organic Wine | NY Daily News