Review: Powell & Mahoney Blood Orange and Ginger Cocktail Mixes

By Christopher Null | October 4, 2013 |

Powell & Mahoney makes high-end, non-alcoholic cocktail mixers, and recently it’s expanded its lineup to a full 10 different bottlings. Today we look at two of the latest expressions.

All of the company’s mixers are made with natural juices, cane sugar, and a smattering of natural flavors, making them a convenient yet high-quality shortcut to cocktaildom when you’re short on time. (It happens!)

Thoughts follow.

Powell & Mahoney Blood Orange – Made with blood orange, (regular) orange, and tangerine concentrates. Brisk and tangy, but not specifically “blood” orange in either taste or color. Standard Valencia orange is more the order of the day, with sub-notes of lemon and grapefruit. Still, this is a mixer that’s easy to drink and which makes for a mean screwdriver… or, dare we suggest, a Harvey Wallbanger? A-

Powell & Mahoney Old Ballycastle Ginger – Ingredients include ginger, fennel, elderflower, and milk thistle. An odd idea. If I want ginger in my drink, I add ginger beer, or Canton, when punch is desired. P&M’s ginger provides that punch and bite of ginger, sans the alcohol or the fizz. Some earthiness starts this mixer out, then that heavy, authentic ginger bite grabs you. There’s a light lemon character on the finish that helps temper the ginger’s spice (perhaps from the elderflower), but otherwise this is both straightforward and authentic. Anyone looking to spike a cocktail with a touch of ginger — without adding alcohol — will find this a good option. A-

each $9 / powellandmahoney.com