Beauty Booze
Ask almost any bartender and they will tell you they make more drinks with vodka than any other spirit. The official statistics back this up. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, vodka continues to be the most consumed spirit in the U.S. and has been since 1970.
Why? Most say because it is highly mixable and can easily be concealed by other flavors.
But what if you didn’t have to hide the taste of your vodka because it was so smooth all on its own? That would be a beautiful thing. And that is what Beauty Booze is all about.
Kris Ravenscroft created Beauty Booze vodka and brought it to Sarasota, where it is now distilled, bottled, and distributed. Kris is a nutritionist, a career that typically doesn’t lend itself to being an avid alcohol connoisseur. She also battled a debilitating illness in her 20s, making her passionate about making healthier choices more convenient and accessible, especially to women.
“When the pandemic came around, we were drinking a lot,” admits Kris. “And I realized the options were not what we were looking for. As a nutritionist, I care about what I put in my body. And the spirits and cocktails that I would prefer weren’t out there.”
So Kris and her scientist husband did a deep dive into how different flavors react with other flavors, with the goal of creating a cleaner spirit that didn’t have to be covered up with mixers full of sugar, calories, and additives. Her solution: the goji berry.
“Goji berry is a super powerful super fruit, and it had a huge impact on my own personal healing journey,” says Kris. “It has a high nutritional content and is an all-around full body tonic.”
Loads of scientific research point to the high nutritional value and health-promoting properties of the goji berry, long used in Asian countries for medicinal purposes. And through trial and error, Kris learned that goji berries lend themselves to a smoother, easier-drinking spirit.
“I came to all of this from a nutritional point of view,” Kris says. “The end result of smoothness and brightness was surprising and accidental, and we were so delighted in what it created. We were floored at what a difference it made in taste.”
She explains, “The reality is I did this for people who care about what they put in their bodies. But it was so much better as a drinking experience than anything else on the market and that was the gift—the gift for being well intentioned.”
Kris emphasizes that Beauty Booze vodka is not flavored. It is six times distilled with goji berry, which does not add flavor so much as it softens the often medicinal taste and smell of vodka. That means you can make or order a drink without having to cover up the alcohol. Kris cautions that if you like the burn of alcohol, then Beauty Booze isn’t for you.
“Goji berry mellows the ethanol. We always say it is added goodness, not added flavor,” she says. “You can use a quarter to a third as much mixer as you normally would, because you don’t have to hide the alcohol taste. It is so smooth you barely know it is there.”
Kris also points out that if you don’t have to add sugary mixers, you will be saving calories and will likely feel better the next day. I sampled Beauty Booze vodka mixed with my favorite flavored sparkling water—zero added calories or sugar, and a smooth, pleasurable, and guilt-free drinking experience.
“Where the goji berry really shines is that it actually brightens citruses, brightens berries, and even olives,” gushes Kris. “So not only is it a vodka that is smoother, but it enhances and makes more of the little bit of ingredients you do add. It’s kind of a magic vodka.”
Side note: Here is something else that you might find magical. Kris says goji berries are often considered aphrodisiacs in Asian lore. Just saying.
Beauty Vodka will also soon be available in canned Beauty Cocktails. They are made with organic juices, real extracts and average around 120 calories and 5 percent ABV. Flavors will include Clementine Paloma Splash, Moscow Mule Fizz, and Elderflower Pomegranate Kiss. Look for it soon in Total Wine, and behind the bar at our favorite local restaurants. I personally can’t wait. A new locally produced spirit option is a beautiful thing.
