Rio's Nuevo Recipe

Prepare tools and produce

Thinly slice 6 pieces of Persian cucumber and measure other ingredients. Chill a highball or Collins glass if desired.

Muddle cucumber and mint

In a cocktail shaker or mixing glass, add the 6 cucumber slices, 8 mint leaves, 15 ml agave syrup and 30 ml fresh lime juice. Gently muddle 6–8 times — press to release cucumber juice and bruise the mint but avoid shredding the leaves so the drink won't become bitter.

Add vodka and ice

Pour 60 ml vodka into the shaker, then add the 6 ice cubes. Cap the shaker.

Shake to chill and dilute

Shake vigorously for about 8–12 seconds, until the shaker is well chilled and slightly frosty. This chills and dilutes the mix, smoothing the agave and cucumber flavors.

Strain over fresh ice

Fill the chilled highball/Collins glass with fresh ice. Double-strain the shaken mixture into the glass using both the shaker strainer and a fine mesh strainer (this removes pulp and mint bits for a cleaner finish).

Top with soda and finish

Top the drink with 90 ml club soda. Gently fold or stir once or twice with a bar spoon to combine — avoid vigorous stirring to keep the soda fizzy.

Make cucumber ribbon and mint sprig

Use a vegetable peeler to shave a long ribbon from the cucumber (reserve one ribbon). Thread the ribbon onto a cocktail pick or fold it gracefully and lay it along the inside of the glass. Lightly slap the mint sprig between your palms to release aromatics and place it on top as a garnish.

Optional: run the lime peel or a cucumber slice around the glass rim before garnishing to add a burst of aroma.