This STEM-inspired co*cktail recipe uses a process called reverse spherification to create an edible concoction that is as fun to make as it is to imbibe.
This Boulevardier co*cktail Pods Recipe was created by foodie turned mixologist Michelle Merlo, in partnership with Buffalo Rising. It is the final in a series of 6 episodes of the BITTERS co*cktail video series, presented by KegWorks.
If you like to imbibe with a good batch of Jello shots or maybe some frozen “adult popsicles”, then may we introduce you to a concept that will blow your mind when it comes to consuming alcohol in a temporary solid state. It’s called reverse spherification.
Reverse spherification happens when a liquid becomes encased inside an edible gel-like membrane after it’s placed in an alginate bath. The calcium ions in the liquid come to the surface and combine with the alginate to form a gel structure around the liquid. This creates an edible pod that looks and feels similar to laundry detergent pods (please don’t eat Tide pods).
When stored in a glass jar and submerged in the same co*cktail ingredients, co*cktail pods will maintain their flavor and stay intact for a long period of time. This makes them perfect for parties or a unique gift idea—they are truly unforgettable and a great conversation starter!
For this recipe, we’ve mixed up a traditional Boulevardier co*cktail composed of whiskey, sweet vermouth and Campari, but you can recreate this process with just about any co*cktail to enjoy your favorite drink in pod form.
3 g (or 2% of the co*cktail’s weight) Calcium lactate gluconate
Glassware
N/A
Tools
Immersion blender or blender
Instant read thermometer
3 bowls (at least 1 should be microwavable)
Ice cube tray
Mixing Glass
Jigger
Perforated spoon
Glass jar (for storage)
Instructions
Place whiskey, Campari, vermouth, water and calcium lactate in mixing glass and blend. Pour contents into a silicone ice tray and place in the freezer until frozen through. Place frozen co*cktail cubes into the sodium alginate bath to complete the reverse spherification process (see process below).
How To Make co*cktail Pods Using Reverse Spherification
To create co*cktail pods using reverse spherification you will need three ingredients on top of your co*cktail’s ingredients: sodium alginate, calcium lactate gluconate and distilled water.
Step 1: Create Alginate Bath
In a bowl blend five grams of sodium alginate in one liter of distilled water. The bath should start to thicken as you blend it together. Let the alginate bath sit for at least one hour to remove any air bubbles.
Step 2: Make Your co*cktail
Create your co*cktail as you normally would in a co*cktail mixing glass, and then use a blender to mix in enough calcium lactate gluconate to equal 2% of the co*cktail’s weight. (Having a digital scale will come in handy for this step.)
Step 3: Freeze Your co*cktail
After you’ve blended the gluconate into your co*cktail, pour it into a silicone ice cube tray, and freeze it.
Step 4: Create co*cktail Pods
Once your alginate bath has sat long enough for the air bubbles to escape, use a microwave to heat it to 125℉. You’ll want to have two bowls of cold water ready to rinse the pod after it comes out of the bath as well.
Take one frozen co*cktail cube out of the ice tray and place it in the alginate bath. Gently stir around the co*cktail pod in the bath for about 2 minutes. The liquid should begin to thaw in the warm bath while the gel membrane forms around it. (Pro tip: Don’t leave your pod in the bath for too long because it will become chewy.)
Scoop the pod out of the alginate with a perforated spoon, and wipe off the bottom of the spoon before placing it in your first bowl of water. Gently stir the pod around in the water to rinse it, then scoop it out with the spoon and repeat the process with the second bowl of water. Place your rinsed pod on a paper towel.
Step 5: How To Store co*cktail Pods
If you don’t plan on consuming the pod right away, then you will need to place it in a jar filled with your co*cktail because the pod will leak if you let sit out on its own for too long. It will stay intact indefinitely while inside the co*cktail-filled jar.
Buffalo Rising BITTERS co*cktail Series presented by KegWorks
Episode #1: b’Lure Flower Extract co*cktail
Episode #2: A Tale as Gold as Thyme Non-Alcoholic co*cktail
Episode #3: Smoked Manhattan - How to smoke a Manhattan co*cktail
Episode #4: Smoking Jacket co*cktail Recipe
Episode #5: Lyre's Londonberry Air Non-Alcoholic co*cktail
To create co*cktail pods using reverse spherification you will need three ingredients on top of your co*cktail's ingredients: sodium alginate, calcium lactate gluconate and distilled water.
Fill the measuring spoon with the mojito liquid and pour it into the sodium alginate bath. Place the spoon close to the surface of the bath and flip the spoon to pour it in. Try one sphere at a time to begin with. Cook the sphere for about 2 minutes, stirring with the spherification spoon.
If you are making spheres using alcohol, blend the sodium alginate into some distilled water and then add that water to the alcohol. Much like with the thin liquids mentioned above, this will assist in the dispersion of the alginate.
A bar code reader inside the capsule holder scans the pod to determine which liquor (or liquors) the Bev will dispense. You can turn the silver knob to adjust the co*cktail strength from a no-alcohol mocktail to a heavy pour, which generally means 2.5 ounces of spirit.
Fill a small bowl with alginate and two additional bowls with water. Scoop up the juice with a measuring spoon and, keeping it close to the surface of the alginate, carefully pour the liquid into the bowl. Through a reaction with the calcium ions and alginate the liquid will instantly form into spheres.
The process uses the easy-to-get cheap lactic acid and calcium carbonate as materials and water as a solvent, the materials at certain molar equivalent ratio are double-decomposed under the condition of certain reaction temperature to obtain a calcium lactate solution, certain amount of ethyl alcohol is added into the ...
Typically, spherification is achieved through evenly dispersing sodium alginate into a flavoured liquid (commonly, the ratio will be 0.5g of sodium alginate to every 100g of liquid) and plunging into a bath of cold water mixed with calcium chloride (also 0.5g to 100g of water).
You can begin to batch your drinks in advance as well, combining all shelf-stable ingredients in a well-sealed container in your fridge. Even if you're not ready to start measuring and mixing, it's still a good idea to chill all of your co*cktail ingredients (the vermouth, the spirits, the syrups) the night before.
The pods are designed to be used with 6 OZ of water per cup. If you want a mug full, use 2 pods. Set your brewer to 6 OZ and brew 1/2 of your mug, then switch to a new pod and finish filling it up to 12 OZ. There is a difference between a measuring cup and a coffee cup.
Do Capsules Expire? The dating on the packaging is a presentation guideline that is significantly different from an expiration or safety date. Regrettably, confusion between the two contributes to a significant amount of food waste in North America each year.
To maintain a bar-quality taste, the capsules contain genuine bitters, extracts, and juice concentrates instead of synthetic versions, and they're free of artificial sweeteners, ingredients, or coloring agents.
One method is that an individual pours alcohol over dry ice and inhales it directly or with a straw. Another method is to make a vaporizing kit using a bike pump, where the alcohol is poured into a bottle, corked, and then the needle of the bicycle pump it poked through the top.
Choose a plastic or glass airtight container and place the towels inside. Mix warm water, dish soap, and alcohol together to create a simple cleaning solution and pour it over the wipes. The wipes will soak up the solution and be ready to use within a few minutes.
Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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