When you sip on our Wallowa Winter Cosmo, you might think, “Wow, this is dangerously good.” And you’d be right. But what makes it so special? The secret lies in something called oleo saccharum—a classic cocktail ingredient that enhances depth and complexity by extracting essential oils from citrus peels, pineapple, and ginger through a process of osmotic infusion.
Wait… Oleo What Now?
Oleo saccharum (pronounced oh-lee-oh sack-a-rum ) is a citrus oil-infused sugar mixture that bartenders have been using for centuries to amplify flavor and aromatics in cocktails. By allowing sugar to interact with the oils in citrus peels, fresh pineapple, and ginger, we create a syrup that delivers a bright, multi-dimensional taste experience.
In our Wallowa Winter Cosmo, we use lime, ginger, and pineapple oleo saccharum to provide a deep citrus and tropical complexity that complements our Steinshine moonshine and cranberry juice. The result? A cocktail that’s refreshing, balanced, and layered with natural sweetness and spice.
How We Make It (And How You Can Too)
Crafting oleo saccharum is a simple but precise technique that maximizes flavor extraction:
1️⃣ Peel some citrus – We use fresh limes, but lemons, oranges, or grapefruit work well too. Avoid the bitter white pith.
2️⃣ Combine with pineapple and ginger – Thinly sliced ginger and chunks of fresh pineapple add additional depth and complexity to the infusion.
3️⃣ Mix with sugar – Toss the peels, pineapple, and ginger into a bowl with a generous amount of sugar. The sugar begins drawing out the essential oils almost immediately.
4️⃣ Let it macerate – Allow the mixture to sit for several hours (or overnight for full extraction). Over time, the sugar will dissolve into a highly aromatic, citrus-forward syrup enriched by the natural sweetness of pineapple and the warm spice of ginger.
5️⃣ Strain & use – Remove the solids, give it a stir, and what’s left is an intensely flavorful, balanced syrup ready for cocktails.
Come Try It for Yourself!
We’re always experimenting with new flavors, and oleo saccharum is just one of the many ways we take our mini-cocktails to the next level. Stop by our Joseph, Oregon tasting room, try a Wallowa Winter Cosmo.
Looking for the best cocktails in Oregon? Visit Stein Distillery for a true craft cocktail experience!