The New Trend: Farm-to-Table Cocktails in Bogotá, Colombia
A bar in Bogotá is determined to make a difference, one cocktail at a time.
Huerta Craft Cocktails (huerta is Spanish for “orchard”) defines itself as a sustainable bar where mixologists use the building’s own kitchen garden and daily picked local ingredients to personalize individual cocktails. In this way, Huerta is creating its very own farm-to-table trend, served in a glass.
Situated in Quinta Camacho – one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Bogotá – Huerta has a somewhat hidden location on the second floor of a house in Giordano Bruno Square. The house features a terrace facing the street where visitors can see their freshly grown herbs and flowers.
Their unique approach to cocktail-making focuses on using all natural ingredients from their local garden. The owners grow the plants both inside the bar and outdoors on the balcony. With around 100 different herbs and spices, they create recipes that transform beautiful plants into enticing and exclusive cocktails every night.
The menu offers carefully curated cocktails divided into sections such as Serious and Dry, Complex and Experiential, and Tropical and Fun. Mixologists also recreate and adapt existing cocktails to the particular taste of each guest.
The atmosphere is relaxed yet trendy, and the presentation of each drink is worthy of some serious Instagramming. Each cocktail has its own signature glass or cup and even some featured edible flower decorations – picked from the garden, of course.
Winston Franco, the founder and owner of Huerta, explains, “We have a sustainable approach. Mixologists use fresh ingredients to create a wide range of diverse cocktails for every palate, from the most tropical and experiential drinks with local fruits and flavors to variations of all the classics.” Their philosophy aims to run a conscious bar while preserving the quality and taste; judging by the response of the patrons, they are definitely nailing it.
It doesn’t get more farm-to-table than having your own mini “farm.” Local gardens support sustainable farming by being self-sufficient and environmentally conscious. With these practices that promote fewer pesticides, less exporting, local employment, and more growing opportunities for future generations, Huerta is really trying to achieve its manifesto to “change the world, one cocktail at a time.”