Cucumber Mint Lemonade Recipe

Cocktail

1. 1

   Prepare glass and produce

   Chill a Collins or highball glass by filling with ice water while you prepare the cocktail. Thinly slice 4 seedless cucumber slices (reserve one nice slice or ribbon for garnish). Pluck 8 fresh mint leaves from stems and set aside a fresh sprig for garnish.

2. 2

   Muddle cucumber and mint

   Discard the ice water from the chilled glass. In a cocktail shaker or mixing glass, place the 4 cucumber slices and 8 mint leaves. Add 0.5 oz simple syrup and 0.25 oz fresh lemon juice (optional). Gently muddle 6–8 times: press and twist with a muddler to release cucumber juice and mint oil without pulverizing into bits. Aim to bruise the mint, not shred it.

3. 3

   Add spirits and lemonade

   Add 2 oz vodka and 4 oz fresh lemonade to the shaker. Fill the shaker with crushed ice (about 1 cup) to chill and dilute correctly.

4. 4

   Shake and strain

   Shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds until the outside of the shaker becomes frosty. Fine-strain (or double-strain) the mixture into the prepared chilled Collins/highball glass filled with fresh crushed ice to remove muddled solids. If you prefer more cucumber/mint texture, use a single strainer.

5. 5

   Top and finish

   Top the cocktail with 2 oz soda water to give a light effervescence. Gently stir once or twice with a bar spoon to integrate soda without flattening it. Taste and adjust sweetness with up to 0.25 oz more simple syrup if needed.

6. 6

   Garnish and serve

   Garnish with the reserved cucumber wheel or ribbon placed on the rim or inside the glass and a fresh mint sprig slapped between your hands to activate the aroma, then tucked into the drink. Serve immediately with a straw.