Fresh, nourishing, seasonal… Sage Roots Cocktail Company is the poster child for modern mixology with their incomparable cocktail creations. Since its inception in April of this year, this growing local business has firmly established their position in the local cocktail catering scene, having serviced over 60 events in the Bryan/College Station area. Founded by Matt Camp, Texas A&M alumni turned culinary connoisseur, they are driven to showcase the best of the local community and its thriving businesses. Though aware of the seemingly saturated cocktail industry, Sage Roots stands out due to its distinctiveness: the lack of preservatives and the incorporation of natural, locally sourced ingredients. Farm-to-glass focused, the company emphasizes seasonality through the use of locally grown ingredients to guarantee that their drinks are as nourishing as possible. One cocktail in particular, the Summer Smash, incorporates watermelon and red bell peppers into a mixture of lime juice and agave. According to Camp, this is a fan favorite. Drawing from their culinary background, Sage Roots found that the nutrients of the preservative-free produce counteracts with the negative that typically comes with alcohol consumption, making them a healthier alternative to conventional cocktail practices.To maintain their vision, the company teamed with the Farm Patch, a local market and garden center. The market provides a variety of garden-fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, which Sage Roots then incorporates into their inventive cocktail curations. Using Farm Patch's quality produce and the originality of Sage Roots Cocktail, these two set the stage for unprocessed and unique drinks.

Sage Roots extend beyond crafting exceptional beverages; the company provides opportunities to delve deeper into the world of mixology with their own specialized courses. They make it easy to acquire the skills needed to master the art of cocktails with opportunities to learn about specific ingredient mixtures, flavor profiles, and how to balance a cocktail. They take pride in their accessibility to everyone, college students included. With that, Sage Roots has provided simple recipes that use basic ingredients and tools that are readily available at any HEB. Exploring their website offers additional information about the company, upcoming classes, and special events.

“Winter Harvest” cocktail

1.5 oz of vodka

.5 oz of fresh lemon juice

.5 oz of simple syrup

8-10 green grapes

6-7 mint leaves

Egg white or

.5 oz chickpea water

In a cocktail shaker add mint leaves and grapes and muddle until you can smell the mint release its oils. Add the rest of the ingredients and shake with ice for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe and garnish with a lemon peel.

If you do not want to use egg white then chickpea water is the alternative vegan solution. Strain a small can of chickpeas and save the water. Use it to create a foam on your cocktail!

Tea Garden Mocktail

4 oz Matcha tea

.75 ounce of lime juice

.75 ounce of honey syrup

3 thin slices of ginger

4-5 basil leaves

Add thin ginger slices and basil in a cocktail shaker muddle until you can smell the aromatics. Add the rest of the ingredients and ice. Shake until fully chilled. Strain into a glass with ice and garnish with a basil leaf.

Matcha tea

Blend a tablespoon of matcha powder with 8oz of water until smooth and store in a squeeze bottle or container.

Written by Leah Lara and Catherine White, Photography: Sage Roots, Social Media: Liane Nguyen

Crafting the Perfect Cocktail with Sage Roots