My wife fell in love with a drink at Appalachia in Lake Lure, NC (one of our favorite restaurants, I even gave it a review) called Fiore e Pepe (“Flower and Pepper” in Italian, a cheeky nod to Cacio e Pepe pasta I suspect). Naturally, I had to recreate it at home.

The cocktail menu is shown below and the ingredients list for the Fiore e Pepe are as follows: Blue Ice Vodka, Blueberry, Elderflower, Black Pepper Simple Syrup. Do I know the exact recipe? Not even close. But here’s my best (and tastiest) guess at reverse-engineering this beauty. If you live in the area, I highly recommend visiting the restaurant for the official version but their menu evolves quickly, so don’t delay!

Why does the Fiore e Pepe work?

The magic of this cocktail comes from the way each ingredient plays off the other. The vodka provides a clean base, allowing the fresh blueberries to shine with juicy sweetness. Elderflower liqueur adds a floral, honeyed lift, while the black pepper simple syrup introduces a warm, spicy note that keeps the drink from being overly sweet. A squeeze of lemon juice ties everything together with bright acidity, making each sip refreshing and complex. It’s that balance of fruity, floral, and spicy that makes the Fiore e Pepe such a standout cocktail.

In short:
👉The Fiore e Pepe works because it balances juicy blueberries, floral elderflower, and a kick of peppery spice, all brightened with lemon. Fruity, floral, and spicy in perfect harmony.

Funny story:
The first time I recreated this cocktail at home, it turned out really good, so good that my wife said it tasted almost exactly like the one we had at the restaurant. But as I thought back, I remembered the original had a nice layer of foam on top. Bartenders often use a little egg white for that effect, but I wanted to try something different. After a little digging, I came across a vegan, gluten-free alternative called Fee Foam from Fee Brothers. I gave it a shot, and sure enough it added that perfect finishing touch my first version was missing. You can see the difference in the original photo above vs the V1 version below vs the V2 version.

The Fiore e Pepe Cocktail

Ingredients for a Fiore e Pepe Cocktail

• 2 1/4 oz Blue Ice Vodka (or your favorite vodka)
• 3/4 oz St-Germain or other Elderflower Liqueur
• 3/4 oz black pepper simple syrup (recipe below)
• 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1-3 dashes cocktail foamer or egg white
• Small handful of fresh blueberries (8-10)

How to make a Fiore e Pepe Cocktail

1. In a shaker, muddle the fresh blueberries until juicy.
2. Add vodka, St-Germain, black pepper syrup, egg white or egg foamer and lemon juice.
3. Fill shaker with ice and shake hard for 20–25 seconds.
4. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with a large cube.
5. Garnish with 3 blueberries skewered on a cocktail pick and a light crack of fresh black pepper over the top.

Black Pepper Simple Syrup

Ingredients for a Black Pepper Simple Syrup

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup Tellicherry pepper corns (or whatever you have on hand)

How to make Black Pepper Simple Syrup

• Add water, sugar and peppercorns to a medium sauce pan. Heat the pan over high heat. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
• Simmer until reduce, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
• Strain into a sealable container and keep in the refrigerator.

Did you try the Fiore e Pepe cocktail? Let us know in the comments. Check out some of our other cocktail recipes. Please consider following us on IG, X, FB, PI, BSky or TT.