Gabriel Boudier Sweet Woodruff liqueur was born out of the Wizard Award Competition, which challenges bartenders to create an original liqueur or crème not commercially available using only natural and ethically sourced ingredients. Ashley Haines took home the UK Gabriel Boudier Wizard Award in March 2025 for a sweet woodruff-flavored liqueur that makes the most of a "widely available yet under-appreciated plant."
This bartender-created liqueur is made in two parts: woodruff, macerated for five weeks in a hydroalcoholic solution, and a green tea infusion. Both components are blended with alcohol, water, and cold-dissolved sugar to maintain the overall flavor, which is said to be a versatile enhancer for everything from desserts and pastries to savory dishes.
Woodruff-Flavored Liqueurs
Gabriel Boudier's Sweet Woodruff Liqueur Features an Underused Plant
Trend Themes
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Underutilized Plant Ingredients — With consumers seeking novel flavors, using widely available yet overlooked plants like woodruff creates unique product opportunities.
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Bartender-led Innovation — Competitions that encourage creative uses of traditional bartending ingredients lead to unexpected and market-ready products.
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Ethically Sourced Infusions — The emphasis on natural and ethically sourced ingredients caters to the growing consumer demand for sustainability in the beverage industry.
Industry Implications
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Craft Spirits — The creation of niche, botanically-infused liqueurs taps into the expanding craft spirits market seeking diverse flavor profiles.
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Gourmet Foods — Infusions of woodruff and green tea in liqueurs offer culinary professionals novel options for enhancing both sweet and savory dishes.
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Sustainable Agriculture — Growing interest in ethically sourced plant ingredients could drive investment in sustainable agriculture practices.