Allison Evanow

Do you have an eco-sin—something you absolutely love that isn't at all green, but you love it so much you don't care?

I was easily able to get rid of the bad habit of buying water in plastic bottles, but I have yet to give up my San Pellegrino from Italy. The glass bottle is green, does that count?

Why vodka?

Vodka is all about purity. Organic, by nature, is as pure as you can get. So if an organic spirit were to make sense to consumers who didn't know organic spirits existed, organic vodka, by nature of being the utmost expression of purity, makes the most sense. And personally, since I love using fresh ingredients in my cooking and cocktails, I felt that you could have the widest amount of creativity with vodka.

Why was it important to you that it be organic?

Organic vodka could truly create an outstanding taste and quality, even against vodkas that have been around for a very long time. Secondly, if we can make a great tasting product and leave less of a footprint on the earth, then why would we choose to go the 'convenient' way of just buying the pesticide-ridden or the cheapest ingredients available?

Where do you source your ingredients?

Our organic rye comes from the plains of North Dakota, widely considered the best region in the country for winter rye. Other than natural yeast and other minor processing aids, the only other ingredient is water. Water is also a key factor, and ours flows down from the Teton Mountains of Wyoming and is pulled from a deep aquifer near the Snake River in Idaho. Unlike many other ultra-premium vodkas, we do not and can not under organic standards, use common flavor-masking agents such as citric acid and glycerin and thus we truly are all natural.

What's the difference between organic vodka and regular vodka?

Choosing organic means you are not only drinking a high quality product because of the purity of its ingredients and process, but you are choosing not to have a product that leaves behind chemical pesticides in the earth or that can affect the farmers handling them. In our case, because our rye is already a very nutritious grain to begin with in terms of its protein and fiber content, our waste (or 'stillage' in technical terms) is so high in remaining fiber and protein due to its light processing and organic methods, that we are able to sell it back to dairy farms as organic cattle feed.

What's your favorite cocktail? Can you share the recipe with us?

Goodnight Ginger 2 ounces Square One Organic Vodka infused with Numi Sweet Meadows Teasan (organic chamomile lemon myrtle) 2 ounces fresh organic lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated ginger 1 ounce organic agave nectar (to taste. May need more if lemons are tart) Splash of Vya Extra-Dry Vermouth or other aromatic white vermouth Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Infusion: Pour vodka into a glass pitcher and put in 6 tea bags per 750 ml of vodka. Infuse for 4-6 hours. Remove bags and pour infused vodka back into original vodka bottle for use.

Is there anything eco about the bottles you use?

By choosing to have an unfrosted bottle, we are consciously avoiding the use of chemical acids that are used to achieve the frosted effect. And direct screen-printed bottles almost always employ petroleum-based inks which are harmful to the environment. By making our bottle clear and with removable labels, we are encouraging consumers to re-purpose the bottles—as an olive oil bottle, water bottle at the dinner table, vase—instead of just recycling it.

What are the labels on your vodka bottle made from?

The principal face label is made from bamboo, cotton lintners and bagasse or sugar cane pulp. All inks, except metallic, are soy-based. Our foot label is a gloss paper made from partially recycled content. Our side label is clear BOPP, a type of plastic, but we are trying to find ways to keep the design element intact while finding a more sustainable option. Our shipper cartons use soy inks, recycled partitions, no bleach, and partially recycled outer carton—can’t be completely recycled paper due to the weight of the glass.

What's the most recent green habit you've adopted in your personal life?

The San Francisco Chronicle recently wrote a feature article on America's obsession with plastic bottled water. When I read about all the waste we are creating by cracking open a new plastic bottle of water every day, I went straight out to the store, bought a water filter and pitcher, and stopped buying plastic bottled water.

When was your eco-awakening?

We moved to Marin County, California, from Orange County in 2000. The two communities couldn’t be more different. In Orange County, the developers rule the world and will plow under any farm or open space or shear off any hilltop in order to build a huge multi-million dollar mansion. There is little open space left and people are crammed into tiny lots with huge houses on them. When I moved to Marin, I couldn't believe that there was so much open space. One day I was hiking with my husband in Point Reyes National Seashore, and we stopped in the Visitor’s Center. I read the whole history on how Marin County and its residents fought to set up land trusts to protect the land from overdevelopment. As clichéd as it sounds, it really had an impact on me. It jump-started my green awareness, which has grown every year.

Have you and your husband ever had an eco fight?

Of the two of us, I am the more green, yet a few years ago I fought him to not change our light bulbs out for the energy-saving ones. I didn’t like the aesthetics or the type of light they gave off. I still don't, but I finally realized that this type of change is easy to make, really has a positive environmental impact, and doesn't negatively affect my lifestyle other than a minor personal preference. So I gave in.