April Drink of the Month - Sweet Pea Cocktail

The other night, I was watching Iron Chef: Gauntlet (legitimately my favorite thing on TV right now). One of the chefs made a sorbet out of an ingredient called "Butterfly pea flower tea," which was an amazing, vivid blue color that you don't find most places in nature. I actually read a whole article on the stuff after watching the show (link), but what I remember most was one of the judges saying that she would not eat anything that blue on principle. I feel the same way about ingredients for cocktails - there are some that seem so outlandish that I would never consider them (sweet potatoes? peas? artichokes (ugh, get your Cynar away from me)? After spending a month enjoying the Sweet Pea Cocktail, I might be open to changing my worldview, at least where one ingredient is concerned.

The cocktail for this month came from my latest issue of Imbibe magazine, in a section highlighting fresh spring flavors. Apparently Lillet Blanc and sugar snap peas combine to provide the "essence of spring." I was incredibly skeptical... but after trying the drink, I can't say that I disagree! The drink combines a neutral spirit (vodka), with a sugar-snap pea infused simple syrup, lime juice, and Lillet Blanc. The combination is earthy and vegital, but also sweet and bright. There is a distinct snap pea flavor on the tail of each sip, but it is mild and pleasant, not bracing. If you don't mind committing to making this a few times (because making 4 ounces of syrup is not worth anyone's time), this is an excellent drink to start out your spring (now that it is actually here, and not faking it, like last month).

In a cocktail shaker, combine the following:

1.5 oz vodka

1 oz sweet pea syrup 1-1*

0.5 oz lime juice

0.25 oz Lillet Blanc

Shake over ice, strain into a coupe. Garnish with a pea pod wrapped in a lime wheel.

*Sweet Pea Syrup: Wash and roughly chop 1/2 cup of sugar snap peas (about 12-15 pea pods). Place in a pot with 1 cup of water. Bring water to a boil and slowly mix in 1 cup sugar, until combined. Reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes, allow mixture to cool/steep for 20 minutes before straining out peas and bottling. Will keep for 2 weeks if refrigerated.

We hope you enjoy your Sweet Pea Cocktail!