Pitcher Perfect
Spring Elixirs for a Rare Thirst
Spring is upon us and I’m struck with pangs for what I consider bliss—branches bursting with blossoms, leaves unfurling from the earth. I’m hungry for color and I seek refreshment in every sense of the word. It’s a thirst that endures deep into the summer, for which there is but one solution: the perfect pitcher drink.
Having been to my fair share of patio parties and backyard shindigs, I realize that the perfect pitcher is something different for everyone: a sturdy juice jar topped with white wine and seltzer; a tall carafe of iced Pimm’s and lemonade laced with fresh berries; even an icy growler of strawberry kombucha with fresh herbs and spiked with rum, served over crushed ice.
This season’s perfect pitcher, the Spring Elixir, is a loose recipe and invites modification based on your taste. It’s a steady pour of your favorite clear spirit, a healthy splash of juice (preferably citrus, as fresh as possible), something to sweeten, lots of ice—and bubbles if you’re feeling festive, which I usually am.
It starts with a trip to the garden for a heaping handful of mint, enough for mint syrup and a leggy sprig to garnish the pitcher. (No fresh mint? Ask a friend or neighbor—you’re bound to know someone who’s got mint spreading with abandon.)
Then I raid my cupboard for the prettiest pitcher I can reach, plus a decent bottle of dry gin. Two recent favorites are South County Distillers Gin with an admirable juniper backbone (from the folks at Grey Sail Brewing in Westerly) and Bully Boy’s Merchant Gin with curious honeysuckle and cardamom notes. A couple of grapefruits and a bottle or two of chilled dry sparkling wine (prosecco and cava both work nicely).
And finally, I employ two varieties of ice: plain cubes for the pitcher and floral ice cubes for each glass. The floral cubes may seem extraneous but are entirely necessary if you want to evoke that essence-of-spring vibe. Prepare the cubes the night before and wait for jaws to loosen (and drop) around the table. Build a pitcher or two of Spring Elixirs for friends and you’ll find that this thirst isn’t so rare after all.
Pitcher and tray from Stock Culinary Goods, PVD.
