This Masters Sunday, El Barrio’s front yard turned into an outdoor bash with a spotlight on the debut of the Salty Goat Margarita Mix, a rebranded New Creation Soda Works staple. But five dollar margaritas weren’t all — El Barrio also served up discounted tacos, live music from Tony and Tim Pritchett of Sons of Sailors, a Buffett cover band, and free root beer and banana split ice cream floats featuring New Creation’s own Root 42 and Banana Cream sodas.
At the entrance of El Barrio, I ran into the soda float station. Individuals had the choice between root beer and banana cream soda floats, of which the latter is the official drink of the Savannah Bananas. These craft sodas were developed in 2015 in Watkinsville by husband and wife Paul and Carla Kooistra.
“We wanted to do something different,” Paul Kooistra said. “And the beer space was too crowded. Craft beer was too crowded, and so we thought, there are no craft soda companies in the Southeast. So we decided to do that.”
Paul Kooistra said that in addition to craft sodas, New Creation Soda Works also makes margarita mixes and has partnered with El Barrio for years. On Sunday, the “Salty Goat” margarita mix was showcased, officially stepping out from the soda lineup to launch under its own label, though the formula remains unchanged.
“Same mix, different brand, Salty Goat,” Paul Kooistra said. “It used to be a margarita mix under the name New Creation Soda, but we wanted to break it out a little bit, so that it’s not under the soda brand, it’s under its own brand.”
I was eager to try the strawberry habanero version of the “Salty Goat,” which features “fresh sweet strawberries and a bite of rich lime with a hint of coconut and a nice warm finish,” according to the label.
Strawberry is not a flavor most can nail, but this mix was balanced in sweetness and tang. I also appreciated how much lighter it tasted compared to traditional mixes like Jose Cuervo. You could really taste the difference in sugar content. Jose Cuervo’s classic margarita mix has about 26 grams of sugar per serving, while the Salty Goat’s blend contains 17 grams of sugar per serving. Best of all, this mix did not have the syrupy, artificial aftertaste, which screams headache.
The best part of the mix was the lingering, yet not overpowering, punch of heat. I cannot usually handle spice, but this gentle burn that coated my throat was smooth and surprisingly delightful.
The packaging and branding itself was elevated and had a unique, rustic flair.
“It’s so good, it’s not too sweet, and it’s a little bit spicy, but not too spicy. And the strawberry is not too fake,” Carson Butler, a University of Georgia veterinary medicine student, said.
The Kooistras’ small-batch sodas and mixes feature locally grown produce like Washington Farms strawberries and locally-grown habanero peppers.
If you are searching for this flavor without the alcohol, New Creation Soda Works also has a nonalcoholic “Jack’d Strawberry Habanero Soda” soda, also known for its subtle heat and fresh strawberry flavor.
The El Barrio party offered more than specialty margaritas; it was a celebration of local flavor. Hopefully, the restaurant continues to host outdoor lawn parties with great deals and live music which bring the community together.
Rating: 5/5
