Toxic Avenger: A Swamp Water Cocktail Riff

Recipe: Chris Martin , The Loyalist , Chicago

Photo: Courtesy of Kinship

September 29, 2025

An elevated take on the 1970s green Chartreuse and pineapple classic.

This “fancier” take on the 1970s classic Swamp Water cocktail adds mezcal, sage-infused honey, and frozen grapes to the drink’s green Chartreuse and pineapple profile.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. mezcal
1 1/2 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. sage-infused honey
3/4 oz. green Chartreuse
1/4 tsp. xantham gum (optional)
4 frozen green grapes
3-4 mint leaves
2 frozen quarter-inch slices of cucumber
1 cup crushed ice

Tools:blender
Glass:goblet
Garnish:honeydew melon balls and mint bouquet

Preparation

Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until consistently smooth. Pour into glass and garnish.
Sage-Infused HoneyHeat 1 cup of honey and 1/3 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fully incorporated. Remove from the heat, and add 1/2 cup of fresh sage leaves. Let cool and allow to infuse for 24 hours in the refrigerator before straining out the leaves. Stored in the fridge a tightly sealed container for use within 1 week.
NOTE“We freeze the fruit/veggies beforehand because it helps preserve them but also texturally it helps blend and makes for a much smoother cocktail. Also the xantham gum helps keep the cocktail from splitting and melting faster,” says Chris Martin.