Lancaster

Recipe by Javier Burgos, Mixologist at Veggy Cocktails. Photography by Ricardo Mejia.

A celebration of farmers’ markets, global ingredients, and the art of savoring vegetables in a glass.

Inspiration

This cocktail is rooted in a global search for ingredients sourced from farmers, distilleries, and vineyards. Its name, Lancaster, was inspired by the Lancaster Central Market in Pennsylvania—the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in the United States, established in 1730—a symbol of perseverance, community, and agricultural heritage.

As a mixologist, Javier Burgos visits farmers’ markets throughout Florida, gathering ideas from seasonal produce and connecting with the people who grow it. Conversations with customers—especially Philadelphians, known for their warmth and openness—often reveal honest insights about preferences, habits, and cravings. These exchanges become part of the creative process.

Two standout ingredients emerged from these explorations:

* Watermelon radish — sweet and spicy
* Hungarian green pepper — sweet and smoky

Together, they form the backbone of a cocktail that honors farmers, markets, and the joy of discovering flavors through human connection.

Ingredients

• 255.15 grams fresh Pineapple Juice (no pulp)
• 7.2 ounces Purified Water
• 1 ounce fresh Lime Juice (optional: 2 ounces for a drier, unsweetened profile)
• 1 Hungarian Green Pepper
• 1 fresh Thyme Leaf
• 1 wheel Watermelon Radish
• 1.5 ounces Championz Gin
• 26.8 ounce wine glass filled with 5.7 ounces Purified-water Ice
• Personal Blender
• Long Wooden Spoon (for mixing)

Garnish

• Watermelon Radish Wheel
• Hungarian Green Pepper
• Fresh Thyme Leaves

Preparation

Mixologist Note: Freeze purified water to create clean, crisp ice cubes (24 hours before)

Juice 
Add the fresh pineapple pieces to your personal blender. Blend thoroughly and strain to remove all pulp and residue. Set aside the clarified pineapple juice.

Assembly

Place the purified-water ice cubes into the wine glass. Add 1 ounce of fresh lime juice (or 2 ounces for a less sweet, unsweetened profile).

Mixologist’s Note:  The lime juice does not dominate the cocktail. It acts as a control mechanism to balance pineapple’s natural sweetness, allowing the gin, watermelon radish, and Hungarian green pepper to express their full aromatic and flavor profiles.

Pour the strained pineapple juice into the glass. Add 1.5 ounces Championz Gin. Stir gently with a long wooden spoon to integrate the ingredients. Adjust sweetness with additional lime juice if desired, stirring again to harmonize the flavors.

Garnish and Experience

Arrange the watermelon radish, Hungarian green pepper, and thyme leaves as a fresh vegetable “salad garnish” on the rim and within the glass. The aroma of thyme defines the first encounter. As you sip—and taste the vegetables—you experience a layered cocktail designed to be both drunk and eaten, revealing new sensations with each interaction.