Each week we seek out unique drinks made on Martha’s Vineyard and a bit about the people who make them. Times intern Naomi Pallas is on the lookout for non-alcoholic beverages, while intern Ben Williams finds creative cocktails. Email calendar@mvtimes.com with your suggestions.
Iced mocha from Edgartown’s Espresso Love
The perfect way to relax after a day at the beach or shopping along Main Street in Edgartown, or something sweet to wake yourself up with in the morning, is Espresso Love’s iced mocha.
“I take black coffee, but when I want something sweet, this is easier than a pastry,” said employee Nina Gonzalez.
The drink itself is not terribly sweet; the two shots of espresso in a size small (three shots in a large) mixed with milk (whole or skim) overpower the chocolate syrup until the final sips, where it has pooled into a burst of sweetness at the bottom of the cup. Order it with whipped cream on top to turn it into dessert.
During the summer, Espresso Love sells about 100 iced mochas a day, Ms. Gonzalez said. She recommends it with their blueberry scones, but those, too, are popular; the basket held only crumbs by 2 pm on Friday last week.
The café is conveniently located on Church Street, Edgartown, just around the corner from the bus stop, and is open every day from 6:30 am to 6 pm.
An Iced Mocha costs $4.29; $4.79 for a large. Soy milk is available for an added 50 cents.
Best Damn Bloody Mary Eva’ from The Seafood Shanty
The Seafood Shanty in Edgartown bills their specialty Bloody Mary as The Best Damn Bloody Mary Eva’. The drink has to go a long way to live up to that name, and it covers the distance in a couple of hearty swigs.
Bartendress Sam crafts the Bloody Mary at the Seafood Shanty’s upstairs bar, whose large deck overlooks Edgartown Harbor.
Sam fills the cup with ice and pours in vodka and the Shanty’s Bloody Mary mix in equal measure. The mix is spiced up with horseradish, and the rim is garnished with Old Bay Seasoning. A celery stalk stands up out of the drink and three olives are speared to the stalk with a small plastic sword. Two shrimp join the drink, sitting on the rim and slices of lemon and lime are perched alongside them. A dusting of Old Bay is added to the shrimp and a straw allows access to the finished drink.
The end result is delicious. It has all of the warm, complex kick that one expects while also serving as a dipping sauce for the shrimp. It can also be made spicy with the Shanty’s secret sauce.
Bloody Marys are often considered a brunch drink, and they are the most popular drink at The Seafood Shanty, beating out second comer the Cadillac Margarita, made with Patron and Grand Marnier.
The Best Damn Bloody Mary Eva’ costs $15, or $10 without the shrimp.
