Lewis Mckenzie

Grain for Good

"Why?
Grain for Good has been created to support families affected by the increased poverty rate within the region of Rotterdam, which is currently highest in Holland at 14%

Who?
Lowlander - is a local beer producer which is partly owned by the Nolet's family; dedicated to up-cycling and sustainability in their brewing practices reducing waste in the process.

Voedselbanken Nederland- Voedselbanken Nederland is the biggest national food bank organization in the Netherlands that aims to combat food insecurity by collecting surplus food from supermarkets, producers, and individuals, and redistributing it to those in need.

My cocktail: Fields of Gold
Is inspired by the core flavours of a Dutch gingerbread, featuring up-cycled spent grains, barley, ginger, cinnamon, star anise. A light and approachable highball drink which accentuates the flavour complexity of Ketel One vodka and champions Grain for good's purpose.

What?
Create an up-cycled gingerbread made from "spent grains" to donate to families suffering from poverty. Promote "Fields of gold" cocktail in Restaurant Goud and several top venues in Rotterdam, with all donations going through the Voedeselbanken Nederland to support the local community.

Scalability
The project is a blueprint for up-cycling with local producers. The concept is replicable around the world, eliminating carbon footprint. Grain for Good has already sparked interest from a number of major producers in central Europe, Scandinavia and the UK who are interested in supporting.

We believe that it takes but a grain of compassion to help garnish for the good of our communities."

Fields of Gold

Glass: Higball
Garnish: Grain stalk served with a piece of upcycled "spent grain" gingerbread
Method: Add 40ml Ketel one & cordial to highball glass
Add long staff of clarified ice to glass
Top up with 80ml Fever Tree Soda water
Gently ladle liquid from top to bottom, as not to disturb the bubbles

Ingredients:
40ml Ketel One Family-made Vodka and cordial
80ml Fever Tree Soda Water

To make Spent Grain Gingerbread cordial:
Ingredients:
1 Litre water
300g barley
200g Lowlander beer "Power flour" spent grains
200g sugar
100g Fresh ginger
20g Cinnamon
5g star anise
6 grams Citric acid
- Weigh out barley, then rinse under water
- Add barley in a pan and roast on medium heat, continuously stirring until all of the barley grains are an even brown colour
- Add roasted barley to a pre heated pan with 1 litre of water and simmer on medium heat for 20minutes
- Remove barley, add water back to pan and add the Spent grains powder & spices and simmer for another 20 minutes on medium heat
- Allow liquid to cool and continue to filter with a tea strainer until clear
- 700ml yield after filtering
- Add citric acid and stir until mixed correctly with liquid
- Bottle and serve