Tales of the Cocktail will have you believe that the Louisiana launch of Root is today, but they’re quite mistaken. However, as far as I know, they do have the location of the launch, Sylvain, correct.

Many, many months ago (it was mid-February) I was engaging in one of my favorite Friday afternoon work activities, a semi-liquid lunch at Sylvain. A seat at Sylvain’s bar will ensure some good conversation about booze and cocktail crafting and, if you’re lucky, it might lead to a little bit of experimentation. This particular February afternoon, there on the counter was a bottle of Root. When I inquired what it was, no one seemed to know. So the bar did the only reasonable thing, popped open the bottle and got to testing. After this impromptu testing, I knew I needed to get a few bottles to play with. Although it took some serious hoop jumping, it was well worth it. [Edit for clarification: Today is the official state-wide launch of Snap and Root. I had to jump through various hoops to get Root because we broke into a test/sample bottle and the product was not available locally. I didn't want that piece of unclear writing to be misunderstood]

Root, on a very basic level, is alcoholic root beer. Actually root beer is un-alcoholic Root. According to Root’s distiller, Art in the Age*, before prohibition root tea was an alcoholic beverage that was incredibly popular in the Pennsylvania area. Once prohibition came in, one Charles Hires developed a non-alcoholic root tea which he, perhaps with tongue-in-cheek, named root beer. The stuff took off and now root beer is everywhere!

Here in New Orleans, root beer is a Barq’s. More recently, an Abita root beer will also suffice. However, this isn’t the kind of “root beer” flavor you’ll get from Root. Barq’s has a much sweeter and understated flavor than what you’ll get with Root, because Root follows the flavor of birch beer, much beloved in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Like a po-boy isn’t the same without a Barq’s, a many find that a hoagie isn’t quite right without a birch beer. In my experience, Birch beer carries a deeper, more robust flavor than a Barq’s, but it isn’t any less tasty.

Root hits this more robust flavor of root (birch) beer. A look at the 13 ingredients will tell you why: Anise, allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, spearmint, lemon, smoked black tea, wintergreen, clove, orange, nutmeg, sugar cane, and birch bark. A wintery spice mix if I ever saw one. The warming and comforting flavors do play through when taking Root on the rocks or neat for one of those slightly cooler nights (remember those?).

That’s not to say that Root is going to be off limits during these warmer months. Add a splash of soda water and you’re looking at the closest thing to a true alcoholic root beer. When I first was exploring through two bottles of Root I had managed to get my hands on, there was little in the way of established recipies. You’re pretty much looking at Root plus you’re choice of carbonated beverage, be it ginger beer, cream soda, etc. Fortunately, as Art in the Age has expanded their distribution lines, the number of recipes available across the internet has equally expanded.

Running between $29-$39, Root is a great addition to any liquor collection, if for no other reason than the fact that it is something that everyone enjoys. Root might not be the drink you entertain with all night long, but it is a nice chance of pace that everyone I’ve shared this with has enjoyed.

*There are reports that Root is the brainchild of the fine people behind Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendricks Gin [Edit: It is confirmed Mrs. Cocktail herself that the fine Hendrick's folk played a hand in Root. If anyone knows it is her]. I find both of these liquors to be just a bit outside the mainstream of their particular genre, but are without a doubt must haves in my liquor cabinet. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the three delicious oddballs are related.