The Lavender Lemon Drop

AT CAPE SEA GRILLE

Jason Vess is a true barman. He moves behind the bar with ease and fluidity as he catches up on the latest goings-on with his regular clientele while they settle in for what they know will be a wonderful dining experience. His ever-present smile and quick laugh are on display while he serves up his creations from the always season-appropriate cocktail menu at Cape Sea Grille in Harwich Port.

Vess has been behind the bar since it was built 10 years ago. In that time, He has developed a rotation of libations that are either wholly unique or exciting twists on the classics. Take for example this spring’s Lavender Lemon Drop. Now, the Lemon Drop has been a cocktail favorite since it was created in San Francisco sometime in the 1970s. The balance of sweet and tart this drink should strike often misses the mark, with the tartness of the lemon winning the battle so decidedly that many establishments will take the easy way out and add a sugar rim to the glass in an attempt to level the flavors out. Jason’s Lavender Lemon Drop at Cape Sea Grille not only finds the perfect equilibrium but brings it to a new place with a hint of lavender. The key word is “hint.” Sourced from Cape Cod Lavender Farm across town in Harwich, Jason uses the plant in both a lavender limoncello and in a lavender simple syrup to match the tartness of the fresh lemon juice. With a Citron vodka base, there is no mistaking the lemon as the headline flavor, but what the lavender does is add a depth to the taste. It is a richness that goes beyond the sweet and the tart. Garnished with a few sprigs of lavender tied up with a lemon twist, the Lavender Lemon Drop is the perfect beverage to enjoy as you relax deeper into your chair, your shoulders drop and you begin to peruse the equally inventive and appealing dinner menu of Chef Doug Ramler.

“The Lemon Drop is huge,” Jason points out. This will be the tenth year of the signature cocktail, with guests still clamoring for more as a new version is introduced each season. A frequent guest of Cape Sea Grille put it this way: “He (Jason) makes these cocktails like food. The more you sip, the more the layers are revealed.” Indeed, whether it’s the seasonal Sazerac, the latest Cocked-Ale (Jason’s original creations featuring beer) or the Lemon Drop, you’re in for a treat. In addition to the house-made limoncello and simple syrups, Jason crafts his own line of bitters to be used for even more texture throughout the cocktail lineup. It is this creativity and attention to detail that makes it nearly impossible to make a wrong selection — deciding on just one is the hardest part. Fittingly located in an old sea captain’s home tucked in off Main Street in Harwich Port, Cape Sea Grille opens new worlds of flavor to visitors, starting with the very first sip.