The ALOE-HA Cocktail

                              The ALOE-HA Cocktail 

                                         INTRODUCTION

Need a bit of summer this winter? The ALOE-HA cocktail is as enjoyable to drink as it is to say its name. Although a wordplay on the traditional Hawaiian greeting, “Aloha,” which is a phrase used when greeting or parting from someone, the drink itself will greet you with a refreshing and delectable taste from the very first sip. The most notable ingredient in the rum cocktail, the ALOE-HA, besides rum of course, is the presence of aloe vera juice. Aloe vera juice is a new and exciting ingredient that is beginning to be more commonly used in the craft cocktail scene much to the delight of mixologists everywhere. 

                                MATERIALS & METHODS

Ingredients:

  • Light Rum (40% ABV / 80 proof) – 1.5 oz (45 mL)
  • Triple Sec – (24 % ABV / 48 proof) - 0.75 oz (22.5 mL)
  • Aloe Vera Juice – 2 0z (60 mL)
  • Coconut Water – 1.0 oz (30 mL)
  • Orange Juice – 0.75 oz (22.5 mL)
  • Pineapple Juice – 0.75 oz (22.5 mL)
  • Juice of 1 Fresh Lemon
  • Garnish: Pineapple Leaves

Directions:

  1. Add all ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
  2. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
  3. Strain into a tall cocktail glass, preferably a Collins Glass, filled with crushed or pellet ice.
  4. Garnish with fresh pineapple leaves. Enjoy!

                                          DISCUSSION

Historical Origin

The use of aloe vera juice as a cocktail ingredient has only increased with the craft cocktail movement. Its use as a tropical cocktail addition to drinks was only a matter of time as aloe vera juice is juice originating from the aloe vera plant (Genus: Aloe, Species: vera). (1) Historically, the plant has been associated with healing properties, and today is commercially cultivated mainly as a tropical treatment which is manufactured in the form of a gel. The gel is then used to treat skin conditions ranging from burns to dry skin. The jury is still out if aloe vera juice will help you on the inside as much as it will help you on the outside. Claims have been made in the past that aloe vera juice will help one’s digestive system, however, to date there is no strong s scientific evidence to this claim outside of one 2015 study that found that it effectively reduced the symptoms of acid reflux. (2)  In fact, there have been some claims that drinking aloe vera juice routinely can lead to potential off-target drug interactions when taken with medication, as well as abdominal discomfort and pain.

Flavor Profile

The Aloe-Ha cocktail is a delicious cocktail that with one sip will make anyone feel that summer is now the current season. The cocktail has flavor enhancing esters due to the presence of lemon, pineapple and orange juices. All three juice ingredients are very acidic in nature and negate the bitterness property that is present in aloe vera juice.

Rum

The Aloe-Ha cocktail recipe calls for a light rum, or a rum that lacks a strong suit of esters and is transparent. The presence of 1.5 oz (45 mL) of a 40% ABV (80-proof) light rum is significantly diluted by the additional ingredients mixed into the drink resulting in an overall lower ABV of approximately 10%. Additionally, one of the eye-catching properties of the cocktail is the beautiful citrus color of the cocktail which is the direct result of the transparency of the light rum influencing the color properties of the ingredients.

Additional Ingredients

Aloe Vera Juice

The name Aloe vera derives from the Arabic word “Alloeh” meaning “shining bitter substance,” while “vera” in Latin means “true”. (3) Aloe vera juice has a higher pH than the citrus acids in the cocktail. The acidic properties of the juices help temper the bitter flavor of the aloe vera juice.

Triple Sec

Triple Sec is a semi-sweet nearly colorless orange flavored liqueur that can range from 15% to 40% ABV.  The spirit is French in origin. Sec is usually known as the French term for the word dry, although when it comes to the liqueur, the term means distilled. Therefore, Triple Sec means triple distilled. (4)

Coconut Water

Coconut water naturally contains many nutrient rich components including but not limited to glucose, amino acids and electrolytes such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. The flavor profile of coconut water is built from acids, sugar, phenolic compounds and mineral content. Sweetness of the coconut water is best when the young fruit is 7-9 months of age. (5) 

Orange Juice

Orange juice is a very popular mixer in cocktails because it contains acids, sugars, and phenolic compounds. The pH of orange juice traditionally falls between 3 and 4, as it contains citric, malic and ascorbic acids. Orange juice typically tastes sweet and flavorsome because of the natural sugars found in oranges which balances with the acids that are present.

Pineapple Juice

Pineapple juice comes from the fruit of the pineapple plant which is a tropical plant and is a member of the Bromeliaceae family. Pineapple juice is considered acidic with an average pH of 3.5. The juice also contains a high concentration of bromelain, which is a mixture of enzymes that are responsible for the tenderization of the tongue often experienced when pineapples are consumed. It is the combination of bromelain, flavorful esters, and the fruit’s acidity which provides the characteristic tanginess for which pineapples are known for.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is known for its pronounced sour taste and is a popular ingredient added to cocktails. With a pH of 2, lemon juice is much lower in pH than orange juice and pineapple juice. The citric acid which is present in lemon juice is the contributing factor to the sourness. 

                                             NUTRITION

Less in calories than a traditional Mai Tai, but only because the alcohol is diluted with more cocktail ingredient volume, the Chief Lapu Lapu is a wonderful cocktail that is big enough to be enjoyed by two. Depending on proof of the rums, if a higher proof rum were chosen, it can be expected that calorie count and ABV would go up as well.

                                     NUTRITION FACTS

                                            (Amount Per 1 Fl oz in a 7.75 Fl oz Cocktail)

Calories:                              27.8

Total Fat:                             0.0 g

Cholesterol:                         0 mg

Sodium:                              1.6 mg

Total Carbohydrates:           2.0 g

Dietary Fiber:                      0.1 g

Sugar:                                 2.0 g

ABV:                                  ~10 %

                                         CONCLUSION

Aloe vera juice is quickly becoming a go to cocktail ingredient for mixologists. Traditionally thought of as a gel or lotion to sooth damaged skin, heads are taking notice in the craft cocktail scene where the ingredient is being added to enhance the overall properties of the drink that includes it. The Aloe-Ha cocktail is the perfect refreshing drink to be enjoyed on a sweltering hot day or in the winter to for those that are longing for the summer season.

                                        REFERENCES

  1. Wikipedia. (2021). Aloe vera. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera 
  2. Brusie, C. (2016). Can You Use Aloe Vera Juice to Treat Acid Reflux? Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/aloe-vera-juice-acid-reflux 
  3. Surjushe, A., Vasanie, R. and Saple, D. (2008). Aloe vera: A short review. Indian Journal of Hematology. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/ 
  4. Bar None Drinks. (2021). Triple Sec. Retrieved from: https://www.barnonedrinks.com/tips/dictionary/t/triple-sec-922.html 
  5. Coconut Hand Book. (2021). The Chemistry of Coconut Water. Retrieved from: https://coconuthandbook.tetrapak.com/chapter/chemistry-coconut-water