Booze Époque

When it comes to food pairings, Dawn praises Chartreuse's complexity for allowing it to pair well with a lot of different things. "You can really eat a nice, meaty, earthy lamb or steak and potato meal. When you have 130 herbs and seeds and barks and flavors going on, you can really complement it with so much," she says. "If you're having something like the Last Word, which is so herbaceous and bright, that's really going to help cleanse your palate of a deep meal, but it can also complement something as simple as a sandwich.

"We’ve been charged with creating an interesting menu with a somewhat limited set of ingredients," says Booze Époque's Meaghan Sinclair. She and partner Harmony Dawn are not only working within the constraints of formulating a fully vegan bar experience, but are also contending with the fact that Veggie Galaxy doesn’t have a full liquor license. Energized by the challenge, the pair are getting creative in more ways than one when it comes to concocting boozy shakes and mixed drinks for the new menu. The resulting beverages will be anything but boring—think milkshakes crafted with port and sherry, vegan egg nog (!) and a new mimosa with fresh-squeezed citrus, vermouth and Prosecco. There will be herbed sangrias with fresh beets and apricots, and the cocktails will be flavored with syrups—rose cardamom, cinnamon and more—made in-house and, when possible, with locally-sourced fruits and veggies. “We wanted to use [Veggie Galaxy’s] ethos—fresh fruits, interesting ingredients—in the beverages,” Sinclair explains.

Meaghan Sinclair says she and partner, Harmony Dawn, have already starting formulating menu ideas, but the formal, three-month partnership with the Central Square vegetarian diner will begin begin August 1. That will include developing a new menu, updating beer and wine selections, helping to renovate bar infrastructure, and training staff.

"We do events constantly and they are all awesome in their own ways. We love doing tiki anything. And just did a huge benefit for Mill City Grows which promotes urban farming. So we used a bunch of the farm’s produce in the drinks. We’re big supporters of local agriculture and community engagement."

The team has been posting some recipe testing on their social media accounts, mentioning creations like "Square Root" gelato (with candied parsnips, peppered beet caramel, and more), an eggnog gelato (vanilla vodka, Cabo Diablo, Frangelico), and a triple chocolate stout ice cream for a stout, sea salt, and rum syrup float.

Emphasizing local, organic and seasonal ingredients in their catering work, they also teach classes at Somerville’s Kitchen Inc. and offer in-home instruction—followed by sampling, of course—in signature cocktail making, tailored for small groups or celebrations.

Meaghan Sinclair and Harmony Dawn are taking the mystery out of mixology, teaching the fundamentals and giving folks the confidence to make first-rate drinks at home.

Their cocktails are anything but ordinary. Instead of mixing a traditional Old Fashioned, for example, they’ve developed their own spin (what they call the “New England Old Fashioned”) with black walnut bitters, bourbon, brandy maple cranberries, and kumquats. Then there’s their most recent creation: a beet, cardamom, rose water, lemon, and vodka cocktail. It doesn’t sound like those flavors would go well together, but what you get is a drink that’s both earthy and refreshing.

Heavily influenced by the local food movement and seasonality, these ladies will ensure that the drink in your glass is a perfect representation of your theme and what’s in season whether you’re planning a pétanque tournament or a Yankee swap. And after having run into them at a recent Somerville event, and tasting two of their delicious punches, we can safely say that they know what they’re doing.

The ladies of Booze Époque are very chill, friendly, and awesome in person. The class deviated a bit halfway through, but Booze Époque were ok with it and had no problems shifting their presentations.

Can alcohol be art? For Meaghan Sinclair and Harmony Dawn the answer is yes. Their company, Booze Époque, seamlessly blends artistry, convenience, and magic.

Forget bar menus limited to plain champagne, red and white wine, and chocolate martinis. Meaghan Sinclair and Harmony Dawn, the spirited duo behind Booze Époque, create locally sourced cocktails that match a couple’s wedding style.

You know those elaborate cocktails you see on Pinterest that you always think you’ll make but end up just cracking a beer instead? This is the event to hit up if you really want to sample a fresh and complex cocktail (especially of the pineapple sort). Booze Époque is run by pair of ladies who are sure to wow you with their sensational mixology.

In addition to creating original drinks or twists on traditional beverages, Sinclair and Dawn handmake many of the ingredients they use in their cocktails. I was lucky enough to try several of their simple syrups, shrubs and garnishes (as well as their incredible homemade grenadine). After tasting them all, I can truly say these women are creating something special, with rich and sometimes surprising flavors that are truly unique.

First, let Meaghan Q. Sinclair and Harmony Dawn of Booze Époque serve some of their boutique cocktails, perhaps the “Mercado” of basil, lime, ginger, and gin or one of their 100 different martinis.

"It's like the art world. You can find beautiful art out there, but you can still be inspired to create something new," Sinclair says. "We just really love the process of creation. When I get excited about a flavor, I want to share with people."

Booze Époque Mission statement: "boutique cocktails & spirit alchemy for private parties and events." Honestly, that is just the tip of the iceberg, co-creators Meaghan Sinclair and Harmony Dawn Kelly bring even more to the table. Wow, did they blow me away with a high level of skill (leaps and bounds over me) and more importantly, hospitality.

Thirsts stirred by the barrage of bites were sated by brilliant bespoke concoctions from Booze Époque...