Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/39104
ALTERNATIVE BEVERAGES Summer Slurps FROM THE BEACH TO THE POOSIDE BAR, HERE ARE OUR SEASONAL PICKS FOR WARM-WEATHER QUAFFING by Rachel Burkons David vs. Goliath We really enjoy a fi ght with a feisty underdog, one where the little guy boldly toes up to an opposing brute and says, “I’m better than you, and I will win.” Taking that knockout stance into the beverage ring is Virgil’s Dr. Better, a micro- brewed, all-natural soda that goes head to head with that other Dr. Drink, and blows it out of the bubbly, carbonated seas. Made with hefty vanilla, nutmeg, cherry and a hint of prune, Dr. Better also offers a no-sugar variety sweetened with stevia. Both varieties are so rich and creamy that we expect to see the big-bev behemoth retreat with its tail between its legs when faced with the bitter truth of this Better option. Coff ee: Not Just for Caff eine Oh, do we sing the praises of the coffee bean in the offi ces of THE TASTING PANEL! Proving that Hawaii’s signature superfruit, estate-grown Kona coffee, has more to offer than that morning jolt is KonaRed, a 100% natural antioxidant beverage made from the red berry fruit that surrounds the precious coffee bean. But that berry fruit isn’t just for protecting the interior caffeine haven: It is nutrient- and antioxidant-rich, and gives KonaRed a healthy dose of delicious berry fl avor to boot. Soothing Sipper We’ve all been there: the long day sunny on the beach, the welcoming warmth of the sand, the oops-I-fell-asleep-in-the-sun-and-now-it- hurts-to-move burn, the thank-goodness-for-aloe moment when your skin fi nally cools. Translating that cooling, soothing, healing power of aloe vera to the beverage world is ALO, a drink made from real aloe pulp and juice and offered in seven refreshing fl avors. Chunky and exotic, ALO is cool and soothing, a clear translation from spiky plant-to-bottle. 52 / the tasting panel / august 201 1 Cosmopolitan Chemistry Crafting a great Martini mixer is no small feat; it must be sweet but not too sweet, fruity but not too fruitalicious, and palate-friendly without masking base spirits into oblivion. Answering the call with a lineup of six real-fruit fl avors is Amoretti Martini Mix, a non-alc mixer so expertly designed that the company was founded by a molecular biologist/organic chemist. We were wowed by the mouthwatering richness of the blueberry, and want to get lost in the tropi- cal warmth of the passion fruit. Oooh, Yeah Let’s be direct here: Oogavé is delicious. All natural, organic and sweetened with agave nectar, Oogave’s fl avor lineup is burst- ing with refreshing, real-fruit fl avors that are easy on the palate and waistline friendly at under 100 calories each. But Oogavé is more than just a smart soda: The brand is committed to sustainable prac- tices and partners regularly with community support organizations.