The Springtime Lush

Hi.

I wanted to make a green cocktail for St. Patrick’s Day (cool story, Bro). But not one of those lime-jello-looking, turn-your-teeth-green, what-the-flying-flock-is-in-this green cocktails. No. I wanted fresh. I wanted springy. I wanted to grab a fistful of green growy-things from the garden and put them in a glass.

And so, behold: The Springtime Lush. Complete with shamrock garnish. These little shamrocks are actually the leaves of the type of oxalis that grow wild around these parts. Most people consider them an insidious weed, and go to very great, chemical-laden lengths to smite them from existence. Which is a damned shame, because A). herbicides need to just stop B). Oxalis really are pretty little plants, and 3). they are totally edible and have the most surprisingly delightful lemony tang to them. Fortunately for me, I conceded defeat to the oxalis in my yard a long time ago and let them grow wherever they see fit (if you can’t beat ’em, make cocktails out of ’em).

You’ll also need fresh mint and limes from your garden or someone else’s. And a whole slew of green, herby alcohols from your liquor cabinet or someone else’s.

What you’ll need for one drink:

• 4 large, fresh mint leaves
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1 oz. Chartreuse green herbal liqueur
• 1 oz. gin (we prefer St. George’s Terroir Gin)
• 1 oz. sweet white dessert wine
• A splash of absinthe to rinse the glass (we love St. George’s)
• Oxalis leaves for garnish (if you don’t have oxalis, just use a mint leaf. You can use a shamrock-shaped crafting hole punch to turn it into a minty shamrock. Or just not be a crazy person and leave it as a mint leaf.)

You’ll start by muddling the dickens out of your mint leaves in the bottom of a shaker. Take no prisoners. Put your splash of absinthe in a champagne coupe or martini glass, and roll it around to evenly coat the sides of the glass. Dump any remaining liquid (down your throat like a badass). Next, add your lime juice, chartreuse, gin, and wine to the shaker, fill the shaker with ice, and shake thoroughly for 30 seconds. Pour into your glass, and garnish with shamrocks or a single mint leaf.

You ever wonder what the color green tastes like? This. This is what it tastes like.

Sláinte, my friends!