#ThirstyThursday is back guys. I had to. The weather is getting nice, the days are long, (which means the evenings are really long), and my hectic schedule is begging me to drink a cocktail more often. So that means, for (at least!) the rest of the Summer you can tune in here every Thursday for a lovely cocktail or mocktail to quench your thirst…
When Pete and I were in Las Vegas weekend before last (sigh, time goes by quickly), Pete uncharacteristically was drinking Gin by the pool. (He is a Scotch or Vodka guy). He just couldn’t resist these really refreshing Cucumber Gin cocktails they were serving.
I thought they were good, but maybe missing a little sweetness and acidity (which I took care of below). So I recreated them at home and added mint. My favorite part is the pretty green color they turn. It’s not scary green, but fresh, healthy green! Like I feel like I am drinking a green juice with booze- they must neutralize each other, right?!
To make these Cucumber Mint Gin Coolers, this is what you do:
In the jar of a blender, combine the cucumber chunks, the mint leaves, sugar and lemon juice. Puree until you have a smooth mixture.
Fill two glasses with ice. Add 2 ounces of gin to each glass and some of the thinly sliced cucumbers.
Fill the glasses to 2/3rds full with the cucumber mixture.
Top with club soda and stir well. Garnish with fresh mint.
Recipe: Cucumber Mint Gin Coolers
Ingredients
- 6 ounces gin
- 1 cup cucumber cut into chunks, plus a few thinly sliced for garnish
- 12 mint leaves plus more for garnish
- 2 tablespoons sugar (or beet sugar)
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- Chilled Club soda to cap
- Ice
Instructions
- In the jar of a blender, combine the cucumber chunks, the mint leaves, sugar and lemon juice. Puree until you have a smooth mixture.
- Fill two glasses with ice. Add 2 ounces of gin to each glass and the thinly sliced cucumbers. Fill the glasses to 2/3rds full with the cucumber mixture. Top with club soda and stir well.
- Garnish with fresh mint.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 3
Let’s pretend these are green smoothies or green juice and super healthy and have them at least daily, right! 🙂 They look great and I love taking restaurant drinks and recreating them at home. You’re quite the mixologist!
How pretty! These look right up my alley – a clear liquor, the trifecta of sweet-citrus-mint, and something vegetal! I’ve been wanting to buy a “boutique” gin (something with a little personality), so maybe this recipe will inspire me to visit the liquor store.
Michelle, I see your post was from over a year ago but I can recommend a beautiful gin for your “boutique gin” consideration. Hendrick’s Gin (https://us.hendricksgin.com/) is an amazing feat in the liquor arena. It’s rose and cucumber side flavors do not drown the juniper but sit next to it, up close and personal. I had my first taste only about three months ago. You may enjoy it as much as I have!
(I am currently obsesessed with smashes, so I will smash the cukes rather than puree)
This cooler sounds so refreshing! A must try for sure! Love the flavors!
These look refreshing and delicious!! Love the combination of mint and cucumber!!
Cheers to Thirsty Thursdays!!! Gorgeous drink Heather.
These sound like the most refreshing drinks ever! Definitely perfect for a long, lazy afternoon lounging in the backyard. 🙂 Hooray!
These look so refreshing, love!
so refreshing and perfect for summer!
It’s called a Tommy Collins here and it is made with Elderberry sirup instead of sugar. It’s THE summer drink!
ooohhhhh! Dom, that sounds so good!
We just made these with vodka. Insanely refreshing and delicious. Thank you!
These look so delicious and refreshing! Makes me think of summer!
Looking great hoping taste as good need to try this soon as possible
Hmm the flavor is good, but the floaties are really hard to swallow 😉
yea, my blender didnt work so well. I stil had clumps of everything. I wonder if a food processor would have worked better? The lemon also wasnt enough liquid for the blender to work. I had to add some of the club soda in. BUT it tastes amazing!
I found that an immersion blender worked quite well. I also added some extra liquid via 3 T simple syrup instead of straight sugar.
Yes, these were amazing. I liked blending the mint & cucumber, so that I could actually consume the vegetables instead of them just flavoring the drink. I also substituted 3 oz simple syrup instead of sugar.
Ok yes!! I need to make these asap. Yum!
Where is the actual recipe???
I’m drinking mine now. So fab!
Awesome vee! Thank you!
From the Kitchen of DebLag… Oh my gosh, this is delicious. Thank you so much Heather!!!! I love it! As I’m watching my sugars and carbs, I made a few adjustments. Here’s what I did and it was fabulous:
Notes: I used ½ amount of lemon and ½ amount lime in place of all fresh lemon. Used tonic in place of club soda and it was delicious. So refreshing! Used hand blender to crush mint and cucumber as much as possible. Did not strain. Was fine. I thought it might be grainy, but it wasn’t. I also used monk fruit sweetener in place of sugar. Absolutely could not tell the difference.
Of course, I tested this recipe in the middle of the day and then all I wanted to do was sit around and sip this cocktail! YUM!!!! Also tried it with club soda, which was very good but I still prefer tonic water. I use diet tonic. I could drink this stuff all day!!
Hi Heather, I realize this post was from many moons ago, however, I am looking for a cucumber mint mixer recipe that can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator to add the spirits to later…any suggestions? Thank you.
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Hey Thanks for Sharing Information
I found that an immersion blender worked quite well. I also added some extra liquid via 3 T simple syrup instead of straight sugar.