FOOD & WINE
SPLASH MIXERS SIMPLIFY THE PERFECT SUMMER COCKTAIL By Lizabeth Zindel e absolutely love Splash mixers because not only do they taste amazing, but they are also health- and ecoconscious. Founded by Maria Baum and Hilary Pereira, the all-women company crafts mixers that are natural, gluten free, vegan, low calorie (20!), kosher-certified, very low in salt and sugar, and non-GMO. They make it their mission to use only the highest quality flavors and even use an eco-friendly paint to frost their stylish bottles. This summer, you may have seen the blue Splash Bar Car cruising around the Hamptons. Driven by “Splashologists,” the vintage 1957 BMW Isetta, with a customized bar trolley, is making an appearance at tons of Hamptons events. Celebs have also rented it for a private party experience. Born in Sag Harbor, raised in New York City, the mixers make it super simple to throw a party and serve an elevated cocktail. “We designed it to be the easiest cocktails. One part splash, one part spirit,” Pereira says. She worked for two years on perfecting the flavors before the official launch last summer in Sag Harbor. The Splash co-founder wanted the mixers to be a healthy alternative that didn’t taste fake or like chemicals — and she has succeeded. “I go to farmers markets or specialty stores and hand choose the ingredients. I test them in the kitchen and then bring a sample to our beverage lab. My sample is what the beverage lab uses as its gold standard,” Pereira says. She is most proud of the margarita flavor. “I really think we nailed it. There are other mixers out there, but they have a pucker taste or a non-authentic green color.” In June, Splash released a signature cocktail for Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing series. It’s two ounces of Splash cosmopolitan with a scoop of Rosé wine gelato, and topped with Rosé wine. “On a hot night, this cocktail is so appealing. It’s this beautiful pink color and looks so elegant,” Pereira says. Splash also created three signature cocktails for the NY Yankees. The Grand Slam, Triple Play, and Big Apple are served in a Yankee-branded cup that doubles as a souvenir cocktail shaker. Splash’s five core flavors are Bay St. ginger, margarita, Moscow mule, mojito, and cosmopolitan. Twenty additional flavors are already created, but yet to be released, including spicy margarita, Bloody Mary, negroni, old fashioned, and grilled pineapple. The delightful mixers can also be used for cooking. At an event at the Bronx Zoo, the chefs cooked white fish, using Splash Bay St. ginger as a marinade and prepared steak with a
Photography by Doug Young
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Splash cosmopolitan reduction sauce. The mojito flavor also makes a refreshing popsicle for the summer! For more inspiration, visit Splash’s colorful Instagram page @splashmixers, and visit splashmixers.com. Social Life