IT’S OUR NEW growing season … as produce items are becoming more plentiful in Arizona, a wide variety of beets are also coming into season. While not a typical cocktail ingredient, beets add a wonderful, earthy, savory and slightly spicy kick to a cocktail, not to mention the beautiful fuchsia color. The leaves are also edible and can make an amazing garnish.

There are so many applications for beets in drinks: in smoothies, in Bloody Marys, in Margaritas and even just in lemonade. I recommend vodka, tequila and gin as my top spirits to mix with beets. The botanicals in gin and the earthy, saline qualities in tequila are the perfect match.

Beet plants are also a honeybee attractor! Honey goes extremely well as a sweetener with beets as in the Beetlejuice cocktail at right.