This month’s Liquid Lit inspiration comes from a fictional book club formed on a small island off the British coast. It’s none other than “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”. The title is a mouthful but the book is brimming with charm, ingenuity, resilience and hope. And great cocktail inspiration. We had a good deal of discussion (as every good book club is want to do) about what this drink would include. There was a debate about vodka (made from potatoes, of course) or gin (one of the characters, Isola, makes her own gin). We decided to make both!
“Will Thisbee was responsible for the inclusion of Potato Peel Pie in our society’s name. Germans or no, he wasn’t going to go to any meetings unless there were eats! So refreshments became part of our program. Since there was scant butter, less flour, and no sugar to spare on Guernsey then, Will concocted a potato peel pie: mashed potatoes for filling, strained beets for sweetness, and potato peeling for crust.”
The Potato Peel Pie Martini
For the vodka drink we decided to do a riff on a dirty martini. Instead of olive brine we used pickled beet juice. Just like the potato peel pie, the small amount of beet brine adds a little sweetness and makes the cocktail sweet and earthy. Drink one and you’ll be ready to debate which Bronte is best. Drink two and you’ll have no doubts it’s Anne.
The Potato Peel Pie Martini
2 oz vodka
1/2 oz dry vermouth
1/4 oz pickle beer brine
Lemon peel
Directions: Shake vodka, vermouth and brine together with ice. Strain into martini glass. Express lemon peel over top. Garnish with lemon peel.
“I keep a good supply of gin in my cupboard”
The Sloe Royal
(Image courtesy of Sipsmith…but doesn’t it look like it could be in Isola’s garden?!)
This drink is the embodiment of Isola and Juliet’s friendship. Isola brings the sloe gin, which I have no doubt she brewed up in her little cottage. And Juliet brings the Champagne, in celebration of the victory of the war, but also as an optimistic nod to better times to come. It’s a romantic concoction with practical roots. Sloe gin is a beautiful red liqueur with a gin base steeped with sloe berries (a relative of plums). It is usually slightly viscous, slightly sweet and slightly herbal. Something about that just kind of screams Isola to me. She would probably just drink it straight (which is delicious) but would also delight in a little luxury, especially with Juliet by her side. No rationing allowed.
The Sloe Royal
1 oz sloe gin
Champagne, to top
Directions: Add sloe gin to a Champagne flute. Top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist or rosemary sprig (much more Isola approved).