Have you ever come across a product that has your mind screaming “Oh my god why didn’t I think of this?”. For me, Owl’s Brew Tea Mixers was just that type of product. Tea cocktails? It is just one giant ‘DUH’ of a pairing. As a lover of tea, owls, and fine drinks I’ve had my eyes on their products for a while and was thrilled when their social media director (who also happens to be a friend) reached out to me for a review of some of their current flavors. These bottles became my party companions for the past few weeks, and my ‘gluten friends’ and I tried them with a variety of alcoholic beverages. 

The Owl’s Brew line is currently all natural, all gluten free and four flavors strong: The Classic, Coco-Lada, Pink and Black, and White and Vine. Distinct yet balanced, each flavor is highly versatile and full-bodied. They cut the burn of stronger liquors while heightening the flavor of more subtle beverages such as wine and cider. The Classic (English breakfast tea with lemon and lime) paired well with vodka, but wasn’t strong enough to calm the piney bite of gin for anyone but me (I’m a gin lover). It’s a traditional staple that would be great during any season. The Coco-Lada, described as “Sweet with a spicy kick, rounded out by coconut”, made every drink taste like a beach party. It went great with rum, vodka and tequila. I could see myself using this for a great summer wind down beverage at the end of a week.

White and Vine and Pink and Black are more complex in flavor. White and Vine, a sensible mix of white tea,
pomegranate, lemon peel and watermelon, can only be described through the words of my friend Alex: “Oh, what a potpourri of taste on my palate!” Or in other words, delightful! The flavor is reminiscent of a Starbucks Lemonade Ice Tea, especially when added to gin in their Botanist Recipe. Most notably it also went well with cider and beer, and when added to wine made for a great alcoholic fruit punch! Overall it added a sweet following to any of the alcohol it was mixed with.

Pink and Black, by far everyone’s top pick, is a mix of Darjeeling, hibiscus, lemon peel, strawberry, and agave. It paired great with vodka, gin, whiskey, beer, cider and wine. Stronger alcohols are subdued, primarily by the strawberry flavor which is a pleasure to the tongue. The Sangri-Tea, a mix of white wine and Pink and Black, was phenomenal. In fact, any wine Pink and Black is mixed with instantly becomes a dessert wine. This is a WAY less expensive alternative to dessert wines themselves. With a dry cider the Pink and Black adds a bit of perkiness and really tastes delicious. Mixed with anything the sweetness warrants itself to moderation, which is great if you are looking to relax with a single drink.

The Owl’s Brew line doesn’t only have to be a mixer for alcohol beverages, they also go great with seltzer and I could easily see using them in ice creams and as glazes. One of the biggest selling points for me is that they are lower in sugar content than many other mixers (i.e. sodas and juices), but you don’t skimp on flavor where you limit the sugar here. They’re also vegan, using agave instead of honey. The entire line benefits by being bottled up in a distinctive black bottle and simple labeling that really sets them apart marketing wise from other mixers out there. The labels do a great job of describing the flavors and drawing you in, while still remaining classic.

If you are interested in trying these tea mixers for yourself they can be found on their online store and are available in quite a few chain stores such as Crate and Barrel, Fairway, William Sonoma, The Fresh Market, and Whole Foods. Prices aren’t too bad either, ranging from 9.99$ for an 8oz bottle (makes 3-4 drinks per suggested rations) to 16.99$ for a 32oz bottle. They also have a sampler kit available, and a new book of their recipes! The brand has also partnered with William Sonoma to release a new fall flavor, Witches Brew (something sweet and spicy to warm up these cooling nights), and they plan to expand their overall line throughout the coming holiday season. It is certainly a wise decision to check these out for yourself; why not make it a social activity and invite a few friends over for a night in? Enjoy!