The pros
Not only is açaí packed with 57 percent more antioxidants than pomegranates and up to 30 times more heart-healthy anthocyanins than red wine, but it also has vitamins C and E, calcium, dietary fiber, omega-3s, and protein. What’s more, the Reum brothers are environmentally conscious. Their alcohol is distilled by a company operated with wind-generated power, they use recycled packaging and soy ink, and they insist that their salespeople drive hybrids. The best part: A portion of their proceeds are donated to the Brazilian rainforest, where açaí berries are harvested—proof they’re not using the green cause as a marketing gimmick.
The cons
VeeV is also made with prickly pear, which allegedly fends off hangovers. Such has not been the case for me. On a recent night at Whist, I drank three of the bar’s signature VeeV cocktails and was completely useless the next morning.
The taste
Like vodka, VeeV doesn’t have a whole lot of flavor and lends itself well to creative concoctions. That must explain why bars have been creating signature VeeV drinks, like CUT's MoVeeV Star, made with fresh ginger and orange juice, and X Bar's VeeV Ambrosia, topped off with St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur. Want to have a cocktail party for Earth Day? The açaí booze tastes amazing with Modmix’s organic mixers, notably the French Martini.
The bottom line
If you'd rather burn a hole in your pocket than in the ozone layer, order a VeeV cocktail.
Alexandra Le Tellier is Bars & Clubs editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
