Honey Stars in P.F. Chang’s New “Garden to…

Fresh, quality ingredients are the hallmark of P.F. Chang’s just-launched “Garden to Glass” cocktail menu.  No wonder P.F. Chang’s chose to highlight honey in its new libations, along with hand-squeezed juices and premium spirits.  “We agreed that honey was the ideal ingredient to unite our Garden to Glass cocktails,” said Mary Melton, Beverage Director of P.F. Chang’s.  “It is made by bees from the nectar from flowers.  What could be a more perfect, natural fit?” 

P.F. Chang’s new, honey-inspired Garden to Glass menu features the following cocktails:

• Cucumber Collins
• Twisted Whiskey Sour
• Honey Thyme G&T
• Anejo Buzz

P.F. Chang’s worked with Master Mixologist Kim Haasarud of Liquid Architecture to create the new honey cocktail menu, and collaborated with the National Honey Board (NHB) to launch employee training (including honey sampling) and co-op marketing initiatives via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  The Garden to Glass menu also is featured in in-store signage at all U.S. P.F. Chang’s locations. 

The NHB also consulted P.F. Chang’s early on regarding the different honey varietals and regional options.  “Ultimately, we chose Orange Blossom honey for our new cocktails because of its delicate citrus notes,” said Melton, “and because of the floral feeling it lends to our Garden to Glass initiative.”  Orange Blossom honey is made by honey bees from the nectar of the blossoms of orange trees, and is therefore typically found in California, Florida and Texas.

“Honey is increasingly tapped as an alternative sweetener for cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages,” according to Haasarud, who also spearheads beverage innovation for the NHB.  “Honey not only sweetens drinks, but can also add balance, complexity and mouthfeel, as well as flavor notes based on the honey varietal.” 

The honey-inspired cocktails are available at P.F. Chang’s 211 locations nationwide.  To find the P.F. Chang’s location nearest you, visit:  www.pfchangs.com.