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\\u201cThe great thing about cocktails is they are cultures in a glass. You can learn so much about the history of a place, its people and its traditions just by what you are drinking.\\u201d

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Erin Petrey (5:33-5:41)

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Erin Petrey, mixologist, cocktail coach, and longtime cocktail and culture writer for www.bourbonbanter.com, started the pandemic sharing how-to videos on Instagram to teach how to make delicious cocktails at home.

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She started with the Old Fashioned, a classic, bourbon-based cocktail that is often made incorrectly. Viewers loved her content and Erin kept pumping out videos. Fast forward to today where she has taught over 3,000 people worldwide, including Fortune 100 companies, law firms, universities, associations and more!

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Not only does Erin have a background in International Relations and Anthropology, a passport stamped 36 times, which makes her passionate about the culture and history behind every cocktail, she\\u2019s equally as driven about making healthy drinks and creating zero waste when it comes to making them.

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\\u201cI take the same approach to cocktails as I do my cooking: I look around my fridge and see what is going bad first and then I make cocktails with what I\\u2019m not necessarily eating right now.\\u201d Erin Petrey (23:26-23:35)

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Everytime Erin learns a new cocktail, she makes sure she learns the history behind it so when she\\u2019s teaching, she can pass on that knowledge, including the history behind the name, the spirits, the ingredients, and the techniques. For example, bourbon is a uniquely American spirit because in the 18th century, people were given land grants in early colonial America (now Kentucky). They were given title to the land if they raised 40 acres of corn, which meant an abundance of corn liquor! From there, bourbon as a majority corn liquor caught on.

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So what does being a cocktail coach entail? In every class, Erin walks students through every step of the process. Not only can you learn how to make a new cocktail, but you can learn new skills, techniques and how to master your own home bar. Erin strives to educate consumers to be more creative thinkers when it comes to creating their own cocktails. A great way to do this - and reduce waste - is to look in your fridge and say \\u201cwhat can I incorporate into a drink that maybe I don\\u2019t normally incorporate?\\u201d

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More often than not, that\\u2019s a fruit or a vegetable!\\xa0

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Did you know that the origin of wine and beer goes all the way back to the Neolithic era? That\\u2019s when crops became domesticated and there became a surplus of crops. Extra fruits and vegetables would sit out and attract wild yeast strains, which eat sugar and then excrete alcohol.

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Erin also teaches on how to moderate calories and sugar with the alcoholic cocktails you\\u2019re drinking. One of her key concepts is teaching how to lengthen a cocktail, which means adding volume. You can do this by adding soda water (like San Pellegrino or Topo Chico). A typically high-calorie, high-sugar cocktail - like a Mojito or Margarita - can be lengthened with soda water so you feel satisfied and get the flavor without all the sugar. Erin\\u2019s Margarita uses rich simple syrup, which she makes herself, fresh lime juice and tequila - that\\u2019s it! Simple, clean and delicious. She also teaches a \\u201cchoose-your-own-adventure margarita\\u201d that adds all sorts of flavor combinations, like one with fresh watermelon muddled with fresh basil (can be alcohol-free)!

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Haven\\u2019t made simple syrup before? It\\u2019s called simple for a reason! It includes one part sugar to one part water. You can also make a thicker version - called rich simple syrup - by doubling the amount of sugar (two parts sugar to one part water). Something else you can make at home are your own infusions by boiling one cup of water with one or two cups of sugar, adding fresh produce or fresh spices, such as cloves, cinnamon, raspberry, even fennel or bell peppers, letting it simmer for a few minutes and then steeping for 30 minutes after. Infusions are a great, fresh way to add flavor to cocktails, or even iced tea, iced coffee or soda water.

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Want to stay away from sugar altogether? Erin says don\\u2019t be afraid to make simple syrup out of monk fruit extract, Swerve, Stevia or your other favorite sugar alternative. Plus, if you\\u2019re using fresh produce in your cocktails, the added flavor enhancement it brings means you don\\u2019t have to rely on needing to sweeten your cocktail too much.\\xa0

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\\u201cDrink curious: always try new things. Don\\u2019t just drink something because people say you\\u2019re supposed to drink it or because of the brand. Keep questioning things, trying new things, and new combinations. You might not like everything you try, but you\\u2019ll be glad that you did.\\u201d Erin Petrey (35:31-35:50)

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Don\\u2019t think having plenty of cocktails means you have to give up your healthy lifestyle. Erin has plenty of ideas on how to incorporate alcohol and cocktails as a part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Keep your drinks healthier by adding fresh berries, fresh citrus and other fresh produce instead of buying pre-mixed mixers which are filled with added preservatives and sugar. Use your \\u2018ugly\\u2019 produce, produce that\\u2019s going bad, scraps or peels you were going to throw out to make cocktails, infusions, syrups, ice cubes and garnishes that will reduce waste and give you a delicious treat!

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!\\xa0
• Reach out to us - we\\u2019d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.\\xa0

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