Oceania can be made with or without alcohol.

By Laurie Casey

Named after the beautiful oceans and everything that belongs in them, “Oceania” is a delectable concoction created by Denisse Soto, mixologist and CEO of La Chingona Mik in Chicago. We asked her to create two drinks (one buzzy, one not) that are inspired by our 2022 season theme: Turn the Tide, and she delivered! For those of you who are joining our March 4 Filmmakers’ Toast from home, or if you want to enjoy a beverage while you watch a One Earth film, give this drink –with Mezcal or sparkling water –a float.

“I created a cocktail inspired by all natural ingredients,” said Soto, “and the meaning of our planet. The color blue on the cocktail is simulating the sea, with refreshing flavors, making you feel like you are somewhere, enjoying a nice day with nature.” We can all use a little of that right now, can’t we?

“Oceania” Coctel

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

1 bottle of mezcal – Denisse recommends Mezcal Verde Amaras OR sparkling water – Denisse recommends Open water
6 large kiwis
10 lemons – or enough to make 2 cups of lemon juice
2 whole cinnamon sticks
2 cups of sugar
¼ oz blue food colorant
Water

Prep Needed:

Make Blue cinnamon and lemon syrup
Squeeze fresh kiwi juice
Squeeze fresh lemon juice
Slice kiwi wheels for garnish

Blue Cinnamon & Lemon Syrup:

In a pot on medium heat, incorporate 4 cups of water and 2 whole cinnamon sticks until the mixture boils.
Once it is boiling, add the 2 cups of sugar, and mix well until the sugar dissolves and returns to a boil.
Once it is boiling, add 1 cup of lemon juice and ¼ oz of blue colorant. Stir to mix all ingredients together and remove from heat.
Let the syrup cool down. Strain out the cinnamon sticks. (You can also let the sticks dry out and reuse them as garnish or a tea.)

Fresh Kiwi Juice

1. After washing 4 kiwis, peel them and cut them in four pieces.

2. Blend them with ½ cup of water in a blender.

3. Strain the seeds out from the kiwi juice and incorporate the juice into a container.

Fresh Lemon Juice

Squeeze about 2 lemons to make 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice for cocktails.

Kiwi wheel Garnish

After washing and peeling your kiwis, cut into thin wheel slices.

Cocktail Build

Once you have your syrup and juices ready. Let’s have some fun!

Oceania

1.5 oz Mezcal
2 oz kiwi juice
1.5 oz blue cinnamon & lemon syrup
.5 oz lemon juice

Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake vigorously.

Strain your cocktail into a rocks glass over ice. And add the kiwi garnish on top.

Oceania – non-alcoholic

For our non-alcoholic version. We will omit the Mezcal and add a splash of sparkling open water, to open up the flavors of the fruits and syrup.
2 oz kiwi juice
1.5 oz blue cinnamon & lemon syrup
.5 oz lemon juice
Splash of sparkling water (equivalent of 2oz maximum)

Method: Add all ingredients to the shaker, add ice and shake vigorously. At the end add a splash of the sparkling water in your shaker and stir around for a few seconds.

Strain your cocktail into a rocks glass over ice. And add the kiwi garnish on top.

Notes from Denisse:

The brand Mezcal Verde Amaras is from Oaxaca Mexico. I really like it because it has great tropical flavor profiles, and it represents the love, respect and the search for a better world. It is registered as an Organic Mezcal and elaborated with all the artesanal methods, respecting the holistic cycle of love “From the seed to sip.”

Ten percent of their net profit is contributed to sustainability projects! On the labels, they use art from artists around the world and use anywhere from 20-30 different designs. Something I’m collecting already! Representing something different on each of them and also a representation of the Mexican Lotería. And, this Mezcal has a really good price point for mixing: $33 a bottle ($1.32/ounce).

Our Oceania cocktail is great with or without alcohol, but we will be using sparkling water as a substitute of the Mezcal, to open up all the flavors of the fruits and syrup. The brand Open Water is my recommendation. I love everything about this canned water! Woman owned!!! By Nic and Jess, since 2014. Made with love in Chicago! Open Water is more eco-friendly than plastic, glass, and cartons. “More ocean, less plastic.” Their mission is to be the "Most Sustainable Bottled Water in the World." You can find it online and in many local stores in Chicago.