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ALTERNATIVE BEVERAGES New Year's Resolutions We've all got 'em. Whether it's quitting smoking, exercising more, calling Mom more than once a week or spending more time at home, the early days of 2012 have filled us with promise for the year to come. It's never too late to add a new resolution to your list, so here are some helpful suggestions for those of you on the quest for perfection. by Rachel Burkons RESOLVED: Step Away from the Bar With the high-end craft cocktail movement booming, consumers are increasingly on the lookout for products that allow them to get that "at the bar" flair at home. Answering the retailers' call to action is vintage mixology-inspired Powell & Mahoney, Ltd., a lineup of cocktail mixers that will make at-home mixology dreams a reality for aspiring 'tenders. RESOLVED: Try New Things Two words: Caramelized. Pineapple. Sounds like an incredible cocktail component, doesn't it? But let's face it—between the chopping off of those spiny tops, the slicing and dicing, the painstaking caramelization process . . . it's a lot of work to get that great flavor. Making things a whole lot easier for chefs and mixologists alike is The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley, with their flavorful, innovative lineup of fruit purées and beverage bases that dazzle in everything from dressings and drizzles to Margaritas and Mojitos. Made in California from all-natural ingredients and with off-the-beaten path flavors such as prickly pear, roasted red pepper and tamarind, the brand offers plenty of cocktail combina- tions to consider, and we can't wait to taste them all. www.perfectpuree.com 36 / the tasting panel / january/february 2012 From attractive packaging that will appeal to young hipsters, to authentic, balanced flavors, Powell & Mahoney is the perfect combination of style and sub- stance. We loved the thick, rich texture of the brand's elegant Peach Bellini and look forward to more from this lovely line in 2012. www.powellandmahoney.com RESOLVED: Skip the Boozy Lunch Seriously, what's not to love about all things Italian? Between its food, wine, culture and beautiful people, Italy is one country that knows how to live la dolce vita. Adding to our ever-growing "Why We Love Italy" list is Ferrarelle, the nation's most popular mineral water, sourced from pristine mineral springs in Campania and imbued with a natural sparkle underground—not manmade carbonation. This natural CO2 gives the water a fine, delicate bubbliness that we can't get enough of, and with its food-friendly soft, fresh taste and mouthfeel, might even entice us to pass on the Pinot Grigio at lunch. www.ferrarelleusa.com