Liquid

THESE DAYS, everyone from Leonardo DiCaprio to Al Gore is trying to get you to go green. But though you can reduce, reuse, and recycle your little heart out, let’s be honest: there are few chores less exciting than sorting your glass from your plastic from your biodegradables. It’s important stuff, though, and you should be proud of your efforts. Proud enough to reward them, of course! And since you’re taking such good care of the earth, shouldn’t you extend that care to your super-fine self? After all, your body is an organic temple of sorts.

Even tree huggers, greenies, and the crunchiest of granola types enjoy a drink or two now and then. And you don’t have to love tofu, Whole Foods, or patchouli to fall in love with the slew of organic, eco-friendly liquors and wines that are hitting the market. Everyone knows that organic food is better for the bod, so it makes sense that booze made from organic grapes, hops, barley, and other distillery staples would be too. Besides the fact that they’re better for you, their absence of pesticides, sulfides, and preservatives also makes a world of difference on the palate. Many of Boston’s hottest bars and restaurants are catching on to the green trend, so you don’t have to look far to enjoy cocktails and vintages that are kind to the earth and won’t muck up your system with chemicals. Go ahead: be pleased as organic punch.

When distilled properly, vodka can be smooth, velvety, and light-as-clean-air on the tongue. One “green” vodka that’s worth writing home (on recycled paper) about is Square One Vodka, a self-described “eco-chic” spirit that proudly claims to be the world’s first 100-percent-organic American rye vodka. Using spring water from the Teton Mountains and organic rye from North Dakota, the creators of Square One are dedicated to the production of this pure, environmentally sound liquor that’s as smooth and clear as it is green. Even the packaging reflects Square One’s respect for Mother Earth: the label is printed on paper made from sustainably grown materials. Bostonians are lucky enough to be able to enjoy Square One at a bunch of local bars and restaurants, including OM (92 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, 617.576.2800) and Skipjack’s (199 Clarendon Street, Boston, 617.536.3500).

Some of the most crystal-clear vodka on the market comes from Iceland. It’s a seemingly unusual origin for Russia’s national beverage, but the makers of Reyka Vodka are giving the Russians a run for their rubles. On top of its astoundingly seamless finish, Reyka is as eco-friendly as it gets. The distillery, located in the village of Borgarnes, uses geothermal energy through steam, which is drawn from local hot springs, and makes use of naturally abundant resources such as lava rocks, which are used in place of charcoal to heat the still. The result is amazingly refreshing: Reyka shimmies effortlessly down your throat, and, when coupled with lots of fresh lemon, is the perfect accompaniment to a starry summer evening. See for yourself at Bambara (25 Edwin H. Land Boulevard, Cambridge, 617.868.4444). Manager Bill McKinney takes pride in Bambara’s spectrum of organic and sustainably farmed products, including the wine list, about 20 percent of which is comprised of organic wines. (He hopes to get the organic wine selection up to 50 percent by the end of the year.) Try a glass of the Bonterra cabernet or chardonnay ($12) or a bottle of Benziger chardonnay ($34): all organic, all excellent.

Tequila gets a bad rap. After all, anything that has you licking salt off the necks of strangers or that can knock you to the floor like a UFC champ’s right hook can’t possibly be good for you, right? Thank goodness for Herradura Blanco and Sauza Tres Generaciones Anejo, both 100-percent-blue-agave tequilas from the Jalisco region of Mexico, and both made by companies that are developing eco-friendly production techniques. Salsaon in to the Cactus Club (939 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.236.0200) and sample the good-for-you salty sweetness of one of their signature margaritas made with Herradura ($8), or the Perfect Margarita ($10), a complex, biting blend of Sauza Tres Generaciones, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice that forgoes the sticky-sweet nightmare that is sour mix and instead emulates the original simplicity of a traditional margarita. Ay yi yi!

If beer’s more your speed, no worries. Vermont brewery Otter Creek (793 Exchange Street, Middlebury, Vermont, 800.473.0727) makes Wolaver’s Certified Organic Ale, using natural Vermont water and organic domestic malt and hops to produce satisfying beers such as their creamy, smooth Brown Ale and the delightfully light and fruity Wit Bier. Visit www.wolavers.com for a list of distributors so you can refresh yourself organically.

See, “eco-friendly” doesn’t have to be synonymous with hemp, dreadlocks, and Greenpeace. Quite the opposite, now that global warming is finally being given the attention it deserves and energy-conserving products are being touted as trendy — even chic. You don’t have to compost or go vegan to help save the planet. Even the hippest urbanites can do their part simply by choosing wisely when out for a wild and crazy Saturday evening and consuming products that aren’t consuming (or destroying) the planet. The environment will thank you for it. So will your taste buds, your immune system, your gastrointestinal tract ... @