Employees Only launches branded cordials for bars, home mixology

West Village speakeasy Employees Only has launched its own branded line of cordials for cocktails.

ONE BENEFIT OF the current cocktail trend is an increasing availability of premium mixing ingredients. From bitters (Fee Brothers, Bitter Truth) to tonics (Fever Tree, Q Tonic), making quality drinks has never been easier. Joining the fray just in time for a trendy round of Tequila Sunrises and Harvey Wallbangers, West Village mainstay Employees Only launched its bottled collection of mixers at an industry party May 11. First up: Employees Only Brand Lime Cordial and Grenadine.

Based on house mixers long used (and coveted) at Employees Only, bartenders Dushan Zaric and Jason Kosmas have researched old recipes, and spent a year perfecting their products prior to the launch. And, while many hard-core cocktalians craft their own cordials, for the average bartender or home entertainer these mixes are a godsend, replacing sugary options like Rose's Lime Juice and Grenadine.

"We have so many people to thank," Kosmas told the crowd at the launch event. "It took a full year from conception to bringing these cordials out to you. Thank you Igor (Hadzismajlovic), Willy (Shine) and Henry (LaFargue), for their great support."

"These cordials are meant to be something every bar should have, because they're fresh and real. Remember, it's not the drinks people go to see, it's the bartenders," Kosmas joked.

What makes the stuff so special? Real, high-quality fruits, a well-balanced blend of fruits and spices, and pulling back on the sugar (most commercial grenadines now are simply high-fructose corn syrup and food coloring, meaning they're not only sugar water, but are simply in the drink for color, not flavor).

Employees Only Brands Lime Cordial was probably the best received of the two offerings. Made with Kaffir lime leaves, lime concentrate (including some key lime) and agave nectar, the taste is fresh and full, reminiscent of a key lime pie. Consider using it to replace Triple Secs, lime juice and/or simple syrup in drinks. It also makes a vibrant classic Gimlet (which the bar served up at the launch). CAUTION: Do not mix with cream-based liqueurs (like Coole Swan) or heavy cream as it will curdle the cream. It doesn't taste bad, but looks weird as hell.

Employees Only Brands Grenadine may find some enthusiasts debating. Grenadine stems from the French word for pomegranate, and were originally prepared from that healthy fruit along with cherry or other red berries. But the sweetness content can vary greatly. We compared the EO Brand to new LES Tiki Lounge Painkiller's house grenadine just for fun. The EO Brand features pomegranate syrup, cane sugar and "secret" spices (which most certainly include cloves). It is deep, rich and red, with minimal sweetness and maximum tart fruits. Painkiller's house brand, which also features pomegranate, runs sweeter and lighter. Painkiller's Giuseppe Gonzalez says that recipes for Grenadine dating as far back as 1901 actually call for food coloring, so he blends a bit in for authenticity. Point being, depending on your cocktail needs (sweet vs. tart), the EO Grenadine might require some experimenting. We found it lovely in Employees Only's riff on the Billionaire Cocktail featuring bourbon, an absinthe wash and the grenadine. In another lovely twist of fate, EO's Tequila Daisy blends both the Grenadine and the Lime Cordial.

"I'm hoping our Grenadine single-handedly brings back The Tequila Sunrise," says Employees Only Brands distributor John Henry.

EO Brands cordials will be available through FreshDirect by the end of May. In the meantime, bartenders and enthusiasts can place orders (bicycle delivery where available). Grenadine retails at $$11.49 per 12-oz bottle, while the Lime Cordial is $7.49 per 12-oz bottle. Bartenders and retailers may also order the products through PipeLine Brands.

Caramel Key Lime Pie Martini (by Robert Haynes-Peterson)

• 1 oz Van Gogh Coconut Vodka
• 1 oz Van Gogh Caramel Vodka
• 1/2 oz EO Brands Lime Cordial
• 1/4 to 1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• Graham Cracker Crumbs for Rim

Fill a cocktail or martini glass with ice cubes to chill. Pour liquid ingredients into a mixing glass. Remove the ice cubes from the cocktail glass and rim with graham cracker crumbs. Add ice to the mixing glass, shake vigorously and strain into the glass.

Classic Gimlet Cocktail (Employees Only)

• 2 1/2 oz Plymouth Gin
• 1 oz Employees Only Brand Lime Cordial
• Fresh Lime

Combine gin and lime cordial in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with lime wheel.

For more Employees Only cocktails (and video how-tos) featuring the branded Grenadine and Lime Cordial, visit DailyCandy.com

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