Author Notes
This is the perfect cocktail to welcome Spring. I don't have a picture now, but it's a beautiful light green color that looks great in a cocktail glass. The only issue is that you have to have the cucumber-infused gin... so I suggest you have a cocktail party and make this the house cocktail. You, and your guests, will be glad you made the effort! - saenyc —saenyc
Test Kitchen Notes
Sublime. Simply sublime. The cucumber provides a mildly astringent counterpoint to the woodsy gin, which together face off against the bright, tart lime, but then all of those tastes merge beautifully and somehow make sense when blended with the simple syrup. Saenyc has you infuse an entire regular sized bottle of gin. I’m so glad I did, as now I have the easiest of hot weather drinks, and a delicious one at that, right at my fingertips as we roll toward summer. When testing this, I dropped in a few of the infused cucumber pieces for the feistiest little dividend ever. What a great cocktail!! - AntoniaJames —The Editors
Ingredients
- Cucumber-infused Gin
-
1
750 ml bottle good Gin (I prefer Hendrick's)
-
3
nice sized cucumbers
- Cucumber-Lime Cocktail
-
4 ounces
cucumber-infused gin
-
1 ounce
fresh lime juice
-
1/2 ounce
simple syrup
-
1
thin slice of cucumber
-
1
long lime wedge
Directions
- Cucumber-infused Gin
-
Peel, seed, and dice cucumbers.
-
Place the cucumbers in a large pitcher or other container with a lid.
-
Add gin. Stir. Set aside in a cool, dark place (the refrigerator if needed) for 3 days. Once per day, stir.
-
Place a fine mesh strainer over a large measuring cup. Strain the cucumber/gin infusion into the measuring cup. Using a spoon, push as much liquid as possible out of the cucumber and through the strainer.
-
Place a cheesecloth-lined funnel (I never said it was easy!) in the original gin bottle.
-
Pour the contents through the cheesecloth and into the bottle. Will keep 6 months. Does not need refrigeration.
- Cucumber-Lime Cocktail
-
Fill two cocktail glasses with large ice cubes. Set aside to chill.
-
Fill a cocktail shaker with large ice cubes. Add the cucumber-infused gin, lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds (or more if you have a crowd). Let sit until the outside of the shaker starts to bead.
-
Discard the ice in the cocktail glass.
-
Strain the contents of the shaker into the glass.
-
Float a cucumber slice on top of the drink, and garnish with the lime wedge. Enjoy.
-
* if you really want to be bold and dazzle your guests, you'll add some diced jalapeno when making your simple syrup. It really adds a nice zing!
See what other Food52ers are saying.