Lawn Dart Cocktail: A Wildly Refreshing Tequila + Gin Drink

The Lawn Dart Cocktail recipe is published in the PDT Cocktail Book as barman Sean Hoard's way of capturing the summery scent of freshly mown grass... and I sure think he nailed it.

Everything about this drink tastes fresh.

Zingy lime juice shines through the mixed tequila and gin base and the herbal combination of Green Chartreuse and bell pepper gives just the right amount of interest. Seriously refreshing!

Lawn Dart Recipe

Unique in several ways, the lawn dart uses both gin and tequila with Green Chartreuse contributing its vegetal green goodness.

Agave syrup and fresh lemon juice balance each other nicely and a slice of muddled bell pepper creates a fresh grassiness that is pretty uncommon in the cocktail world, but it's delicious

Plus, as an added bonus, this mouthwatering drink can be enjoyed from your lawn chair without the fear of be stuck with a giant metal dart your cousin sharpened on the sidewalk.

What is Green Chartreuse?

Green Chartreuse has been made since the 1700's by the Charthusian monks out of a sugar beet based spirit.

The blend of 130 botanicals the monks use is kept secret and creates an intricate flavor with hints of honey, mint, pepper, citrus, and a strong herbal backbone. 

When Chartreuse is used in cocktails it makes itself known. The bold herbal notes are highlighted in cocktails like the Last Word, or Bijou, but in the Lawn Dart recipe the small 1/4 oz pour gives the drink a more subtle vegetal flavor.

How to make agave syrup

To make an agave syrup for cocktails add equal parts (somewhere around 1/4-1/3 cup) agave nectar and water to a small sauce pan and heat over low heat just until combined. Let the syrup cool before pouring into a clean small container and storing it in the fridge.

NOTE: do not just use agave nectar in place of the agave syrup the recipe calls for, the cocktail will be way to sweet.

muddled bell pepper

You don't see a whole lot of cocktail recipes with bell peppers, but those fresh vegetal flavors compliment the Chartreuse beautifully.

For muddling you want a single slice from top to bottom of the pepper that's about 1/2 inch thick, or like the size you'd see on a veggie dipping tray that nobody touches at the BBQ.

From there you can cut it into a few smaller pieces to muddle if you want, but either way you'll need to bring your muscles to really squeeze the juices out. Any color bell pepper will work but I like sticking with green to match the other ingredients.

Give the Lawn Dart recipe a try at your next family grilling session!