EGG HARBOR - The Spring Green cocktail starts with a black pepper and cilantro simple syrup. That syrup gets shaken with gin, lime and cucumber juice. Yeah, I had my doubts. I said as much to Hatch Distilling's founder Chris Roedl and the distillery's mixologist master (among other duties) Brett Cleveland during a Zoom call. I like gin, lime, pepper, cilantro and cucumber. Just not all at once — I thought. And I never made a simple syrup before. I was doubly doubtful. Cleveland assured me this cocktail works with Hatch's gin because they add a secret spice blend when making their gin that includes peppercorns. And locally foraged spruce tips. And the alcohol that's the backbone of the gin is derived from raw honey.