Getting in the Botanical-infused Spirit at 1022 in Tacoma

Art from Thomas Norton's The Ordinal of Alchemy

Discovering new adult beverages is a feat. As I age and my tastes "refine," shall we say, the idea of a mixologist cooking something up they would for a 21-year-old is abhorrent. Sugary and sickeningly sweet concoctions make for an unpleasant headache and a tummy ache.

Thankfully, 1022 has crafted a more sophisticated drink with some pizazz, and it’s damn tasty. The White Vulture, a potion of Jasmine-Pearl-infused white wine (courtesy of Mad Hat Tea's Jasmine Pearl Blend) with lemongrass ginger soda. The use of teas and herb-flavored ingredients isn't unheard of in Tacoma, but still rare. And it is these very ingredients that make the White Vulture (and other 1022 beverages) so intriguing.

The white wine lends the base to this drink – not too dry, it's refreshing, as each sip is chilled in a tall glass of ice. The jasmine pearl infused addition to the wine contributes a subtle earthy flavor. This alone would make for a pleasant drink topped off with some soda water, but taking it from pleasant to dynamic is the lemongrass and ginger flavor combination. The two together add a bit of sweetness with a slight tart finish – not so much as to make you pucker, but just enough to balance the earthy undertones of the tea infusion.

1022 is known for botanical alchemy. They mix all of their beverages using house-made ingredients. For example, their tonic water has a brown hue due to them making it true to the original methods, as opposed to using today's glow-in-the-black-light-pre-packaged-version (that can't be good for you, can it?)

Order the White Vulture, or one of many other cocktails mixed with botanical-infused spirits off the Happy Hour menu, every day, 4:00pm - 8:00pm.

1022, 1022 South J St., Tacoma