02/08/2026
Krocs Red Dirt Road Elevated Herb Gardens, Arkansas Made in Hot Springs
Do you enjoy fresh minty herb cocktails? Whether it’s a punchy tequila cocktail or a modern riff on the classic martini, there’s nothing as delightful as relaxing on your back patio or in front of a cozy fireplace with drink in hand. But if you’re not adding fresh herbs to your libations, you’re missing an entire layer of complexity and enjoyment. “The easiest and most effective way to utilize fresh herbs in cocktails is by adding them to completed drinks as aromatic garnishes,”A sprig of fresh rosemary or a handful of mint can give a drink a fresh floral nose that will entice the drinker to take a sip and add to the overall taste and aesthetic experience of the cocktail."
Herbs actually are one of the easiest type of plants to grow in your garden, so you needn’t worry if you’re a novice. Most herbs need full sun, which is considered 6 or more hours direct sunlight per day. Perennial herbs, such as mint and sage, will return for many seasons, but others, such as basil, are treated as annuals and planted every year. Herbs do well in elevated raised cedar gardens just outside your back door in small spaces.
When selecting perennial herbs, make sure an herb can withstand winters in your USDA Hardiness zone or purchase a greenhouse protectsnt cover.
Mint is perfect muddled in any tropical, citrusy rum cocktail such as a mojito, but its brightness also pairs well with the sweet corn notes of bourbon in a mint julep or bourbon smash.
This herb comes in many different flavors, including classic spearmint, pineapple, orange, and chocolate, so plant a few different types. It’s a vigorous grower, so consider planting mint and prunning it and sharing with a neighbor to contain its growth and prevent it from taking over your elevated garden.
Make a rosemary simple syrup to give an herbal kick to one-note drinks such as a vodka gimlet or Tom Collins. This Mediterranean herb likes well-draining soil but is otherwise un-fussy. It’s considered perennial in zones 6 and warmer, but in cold climates, use the Kroc’s greenhouse zip up cover.
Delicate and citrusy, lemon verbena is a natural for vodka or gin drinks. Lemon verbena survives as a perennial in mild climates (zone 8 and warmer), but consider it an annual in most of the country, cover again when temperatures drop.
Basil has a spicy-sweet flavor that complements gin and vodka. Even a single leaf of Thai basil can provide complex herbal notes to balance out super-sweet tropical drinks, says Chef Danny. Basil is an annual in most of the country; give it plenty of sun and look for new varieties that are more disease-resistant.
Tarragon, with bright hints of pine and anise, this herb complements gin, bourbon and whisky drinks. French tarragon is cold-hardy to zone 3 and prefers well-drained soil and lots of sun.
Thyme has an earthy, citrusy fragrance that pairs well with vodka and gin drinks. This perennial herb comes in many different types, including orange and lemon-scented. It’s an excellent groundcover that’s also appealing to bees and other pollinators.
Sage, Bourbon and gin pair nicely with the earthiness of sage. This perennial herb is cold-hardy and pest resistant. It also has beautiful flowers that attract lots of hummingbirds in our area and other pollinators. Look for pineapple sage, a variety which has a fresh, tropical fruit flavor.
Lavender is not only a lovely herb, but its flower buds make beautiful drinks. Make a simple syrup to drizzle into martinis or in lemonade for a non-alcoholic refresher, and use the flowers and leaves as garnishes. Lavender likes well-draining soils and hot, dry conditions. Make sure to plant a variety that’s winter-hardy in your area or just cover to enjoy sll winter.
Cilantro is a delicious substitute for mint in mojitos, but it also adds a surprising sweet/sour taste to tequila drinks, such as margaritas, and to martinis. Cilantro prefers cool weather and tends to bolt, or go to seed, when warmer temperatures arrive. However, because it self-seeds so readily, you’ll rarely have to replant next spring. Just keep it controlled in your dmall space. You also can harvest some of the dried seeds (coriander) for cooking.
Although these plants aren’t technically herbs, edible flowers add a final magnificent flourish to cocktails. Many of these flowers are easy to grow, too. Favorites to dress up drinks include pansies, violas, nasturtium, baby’s breath, honeysuckle and hibiscus.
So why not place one of Kroc’s gardens outside your back door and enjoy this western red cedar garden blooming with herbs to enjoy and share. So let Red Dirt Road gardens help, to help, cant wait to get started! Call me and i will deliver for free and brj g dome super soil to get your garden ready.
Not only does this sustainable red cedar raised bed fit into any home space easily, its simple design and quality materials make for a perfect raised cocktail garden that will keep producing through all the seasons.
To toast to any new cocktail garden, I mixed up a refreshing mocktail. Join me as we make a Blackberry Mock Mule!
2-3 Muddled Blackberries
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup
4 oz Ginger Beer
Muddle blackberries in a glass, add ice, lime juice, simple syrup and ginger beer. Garnish with a blood orange slice and fresh mint sprig from your new cocktail garden.
To grab your own elevated bed from Kroc’s, text or call me at (281) 853-5310
