Mission Driven Bloody Marys at FruitCraft Fermentery and Distillery
FruitCraft- Fermentery and Distillery, Hillcrest
4.5 🍅's
Have you ever attempted to attend eight brunches in one weekend!? Yeah, me either. That was until my friend Shelley, from The Drunken Tomato told me she was coming to town. I had heard about a new distillery in Hillcrest, called FruitCraft-Fermentery and Distillery that was doing some pretty cool things. So, I knew I had to add them to the bloody mary tour of San Diego I had set up for us!
FruitCraft is unique because they are employee owned, source their ingredients locally, ethically and seasonally, and ferment fruit instead of grains to create Eau de Vies spirits (water of life)! I was incredibly surprised how much they taste like traditional spirits and how smoothly they went down! Even though we tried the spirits and wine flights (that were awesome) we were there for the bloody mary! Not only does the bloody mary taste great, but the cocktail is hand-crafted and the presentation is impeccable!
The FruitCraft bloody mary is a bold red color and is served in a tall, thin, sling glass. Being that their spirits are distilled with fruit, you would think the bloody would be on the sweeter side; this was not the case at all. The bloody is made with pomegranate and cranberry spirits that are herb-infused with garlic, rosemary, basil, and roasted red pepper. These two spirits give a perfect balance between sweet and sour; a must in any good bloody. The infusion brought a well-rounded, refined and savory taste to the bloody, with the notes of garlic and roasted red pepper really shining through. The fresh-pressed lemon juice brought acidity and a lightness that helped thin and smooth the texture. The mix had a bit of kick and saltiness to it, which comes from the celery salt, black pepper, and cayenne that left me wanting more!
Lastly, the sling glass is rimmed with Tajin, which complements the sweet and sour of the spirits. The garnish is colorful; representing all the colors of the rainbow! The garnish consists of a lemon wedge, celery stalk, slice of pepperoni, kalamata olive, basil leaf, and a cherry tomato! So yummy!
Beyond the great bloody mary and unique spirits, FruitCraft’s space, management, staff, and mission make it something truly special. Their long-term goal is to reinvest in their community by giving funds to local startups! So not only do they have great cocktails and cultivate a great culture, frequenting them helps drive a great mission!
For a list of top bloody marys in San Diego for 2017 including this one, check this out!
