Last Call The Peak N Pit at Ocean House
When the Commonwealth of Massachusetts banned happy hours in 1984, gone were the days when restaurants and bars could offer drink specials like the 2-for-1. While not two for one in price, Ocean House has a beverage that certainly offers much more than a two for one in flavor: the Peak N Pit.
Beverage program manager Dan Lynch describes how the cocktail's name has a double meaning. “It’s kind of a nod to the staff and the end of the night peak-and-pit meetings that we have,” he explains. “We’ll go over what went right (the peaks) and what went wrong (the pits) that night.”
The name also refers to the ingredients of the drink. The “peak” alludes to the high Peruvian mountains where the grapes are harvested to make the pisco (a grape brandy). The “pit”, as in a peach pit, appears as a splash of Mathilde Peches (peach) liquor. Add in St. Germain elderflower liquor, fresh lemon juice and some aquafaba and you have a light and balanced cocktail to enjoy straight up.
“Aqua wha…” you say? You know that viscous liquid that canned beans come soaked in? The stuff you pour down the drain and rinse off the beans before using them? Yeah, that’s aquafaba.
At Ocean House, the aquafaba of chickpeas is used. It has become popular in the last few years as a substitute for eggs and egg whites in vegan cooking in such things as meringue, mayonnaise, waffles and so on. In the world of mixology, the aquafaba is used just like egg whites, and once emulsified, it builds a foam for beverages like sours, cappuccinos and the Peak N Pit.
After the ingredients are shaken vigorously on ice and strained, several drops of bitters are added to the foam-topped pearlescent liquid and carefully drawn with a pick to form a chain of bleeding hearts. The final touch is a sage leaf delicately positioned on the foam. It has an artful appearance but, more importantly, it gives a wonderful aromatic nose to the cocktail as it’s raised to the lips.
Ocean House has long been known for its superb fare and an equally impressive view of Nantucket Sound from atop a bluff in Dennis Port. Its remarkable cocktail menu is not to be overlooked, however. Traditional drinks like the Pain Killer and Sazerac are offered alongside creative twists on established drinks like the Three Seasons Sling, a riff on the Singapore Sling. But by no means should you miss the Peak N Pit. As you enjoy the drink, the sage leaf imparts its own essence into the melange, giving an unexpected, completely different and equally delightful flavor profile. The final sip brings with it the last of the heart-shaped bitters, and one exquisite closing twist to savor.
Ocean House Restaurant 425 Old Wharf Road, Dennis Port 508-394-0700 / oceanhouserestaurant.com
