Father's Day

Cucumber Cooler

by:
July 10, 2011
4
2 Ratings
  • Makes 2
Author Notes

The combination of cucumber, lime and mint is so refreshing -- it just feels like summer. I also love this drink because it can handle a lot of ice, and actually tastes better as the ice melts a bit. That makes it perfect for poolside. - Cfrancke —Cfrancke

Test Kitchen Notes

While shaking the ingredients for the Cucumber Cooler, suddenly there was most delicious and refreshing smell. After all, doesn’t anything with cucumber, mint, and lime smell good? Add in a splash of gin, and you’re golden. Cfranke’s cucumber cooler does not disappoint. The drink was refreshing, and with the ingredients being fairly wholesome, I liked to think that I was drinking some type of spa water. Spiked spa water, that is (although I consider Hendrick’s to be a health food). My companion and I delighted in these coolers at a humidity-filled Sunday brunch. It's perfect for drinking beside the pool or any large body of water! - cbear1984 —cbear1984

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 cucumber, peeled and cut into 3 large chunks
  • 2 ounces fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 4 sprigs mint, leaves removed (about 10-15 leaves))
  • 1 1/4 ounces light agave nectar (or simple syrup)
  • 3 ounces Hendricks gin
  • Splash soda water
Directions
  1. Take 1 of the large cucumber chunks and cut into slightly smaller pieces. Put in cocktail shaker.
  2. Add mint, lime juice and agave nectar to shaker
  3. Muddle well, pressing down on the cucumber to really extract all the good flavor and liquid. Really grind down on the mint to get as much flavor as possible
  4. Add gin
  5. Fill shaker with ice and shake drink. (This is best done with a shaker with a glass attachment because you want some of the bits of muddled cucumber to come through into the drink and a regular shaker wont let you do that). You can also toss it back and forth between a shaker and a large glass.
  6. Pour the drink into 2 large glasses (large plastic wine glasses feel so right :). Add additional ice and top with club soda.
  7. Sip away!
Contest Entries

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  • mrslarkin
    mrslarkin
  • Sagegreen
    Sagegreen
  • gingerroot
    gingerroot
  • Cfrancke
    Cfrancke

7 Reviews

rrcooks April 2, 2012
Just been given a bottle of Hendricks Gin - this is the first thing that came to mind! I can't wait for a slightly warmer evening and then we'll pretend it's summer...
 
mrslarkin July 10, 2011
Made this tonight. After a long, hot day at the farmers market, this was magnificent. It's a cocktail AND a snack! This definitely should be a contender for an EP. Thanks for a great recipe, Cfrancke!
 
Cfrancke July 10, 2011
I am so glad you liked it! I, too, like the cocktail/snack part. It's like drinking salad - what could be better :)
 
Sagegreen July 10, 2011
Your version looks just perfect for poolside! Love Hendricks with cucumber. I started experimenting with a gimlet this past winter and wound up with a martini version.
 
Cfrancke July 10, 2011
Just saw yours. Looks delish!
 
gingerroot July 10, 2011
This is perfect.
 
mrslarkin July 10, 2011
This is going to hit the spot!!