Jackie Zykan: Maître Liquoriste + Perfumer + Herbalist

By Jackie Zykan

With over 20 years of experience in beverage alcohol, and a love affair with the natural world, I am delighted to share some of Kentucky’s finest pours alongside fresh, local, and seasonal botanicals. 

Over the course of the past twelve months, I have been full of gratitude for the opportunity to write this featured article full of insights, recipes, and intimate memories of various flora through the seasons. My focus has been locally foraged ingredients for use in cocktails, as well as showcasing some of Kentucky’s wonderful spirits brands. As my interests, knowledge, and career grow and evolve, I am delighted to bring you along to partake in my ever-expanding mission to share the significance of botanicals. This June marks the one year anniversary of my contributions to the Voice Tribune, so it feels the perfect time to start a new chapter which dives deeper into the plants themselves. In lieu of a birthday cake candle, grab a dandelion. Make a wish. Endure the glare from your neighbor as you scatter the seeds of this “weed” into their yard. Did you wish for a cocktail? If so, you’re in luck. Maybe bring your neighbor one as a peace offering now that you’ve established yourself as the destroyer of pristine lawns. 

This month we’re going to explore the world of dandelions in all their glory and reclaim their incredible purpose in spite of some seeing them as a landscaping blemish. Put away the weed killer, these little yellow blessings have been waiting to work with you to optimize health and happiness. Let’s trade in the negative lens of nuisance and take this moment to remember that once upon a summer, enveloped in the sweet sounds of cicadas, perhaps you came across a puffy globe and were filled with hope as you imagined that which you desire and blew the fruits of the dandelion into the breeze.

Featured Kentucky Flora: Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion) 

Besides having a stacked list of cross-cultural medicinal and culinary applications, the dandelion offers the gift of cheer, uplifted spirits, and a moment of inner child simplicity. Our recipe utilizes both the flower and the root of this entirely edible plant, but if you really want to take it to the next level, pair the cocktail with a salad made of fresh dandelion greens. The leaves are the namesake of this charming species, “dent de lion” meaning “lion’s tooth”. These bitter salad greens are full of vitamins C and A, iron, and so much potassium they function as a diuretic. So much so that the French name for dandelion is “pissenlit” literally translating to “wet the bed”. If you are looking for a nutritious green for your juice blends or smoothies, dandelion is a wonderful addition. Greens are least bitter when gathered before flowering in the spring or in the fall. Dandelion root is a notorious support for digestion, liver, and inflammation, and is best harvested in the fall when the plant has focused its energy stores downward for winter. For this reason, we will be using a readily available product to include roots in the drink. 

Suggested Kentucky Product: Town Branch Kentucky Single Malt 7 Yr Old Whiskey; 87 proof 

There are many times when ingredients in a recipe are chosen to not camouflage any of their individual flavors. However, this recipe calls for something malty and roasty to seamlessly mingle with the root based coffee alternative being used. The goal is to avoid overpowering the delicate honeyed notes of the sweetener, and therefore we are embracing Kentucky made single malt whiskey as a base spirit. 

Dandy Indeed Cocktail 

4 oz Water

1 tsp Dandy Blend Coffee Alternative

1 oz May Honey *

1 oz Town Branch Kentucky Single Malt 7 Yr Old Whiskey 

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin filled with ice. Shake thoroughly and pour directly into preferred glass. 

Non-Alcoholic Variation: simply omit the whiskey in the recipe above. 

May Honey Recipe 

Technically not a true “honey”, this old world honey substitute makes a comeback for June’s featured recipe. Fresh, bright, and delicious, this syrup can be used as a vegan honey alternative wherever you crave a bit of sweetness. 

1 cup Dandelion Flower Blooms

2 cups Water 

1 TBSP Lemon Juice

1 cup Granulated Sugar 

Directions: Gather fresh dandelion blooms (mid day is the best time for the fullest blossoms) and rinse well in a colander. Remove fluffy petals and set aside. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan and remove from heat. Add dandelion blooms and allow to steep for 30 minutes. Strain using a coffee filter to ensure all solids are removed. In a saucepan, combine liquid with lemon juice and sugar, bring to a boil for about 10 minutes until the consistency is slightly thinner than honey. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Store in the refrigerator. 

Fancy a stem? 

The primary recipe yields what could be best described as an iced coffee, sans caffeine and acidity. However, it seems a lost opportunity to not mention the versatility of this coffee alternative in cocktails. Playing with the ratio of water is seamless with this product in order to adjust the taste to your preference. Crank up the amount of coffee alternative and you will get an espresso substitute for a caffeine free espresso martini that’s easy on your tummy as well as respectful of your bedtime. 

When foraging wild plants always be completely certain of identification and follow the rule of “when in doubt, don’t”. Only take what is needed, leaving plenty for our native pollinators and fauna. Avoid harvesting from areas which are exposed to pesticides or other chemical applications. The statements in this article are for entertainment purposes only and are not meant to diagnose, treat, or medically advise. Please drink responsibly, you are loved by many.