Minty Cucumber Gin Coolers

I’m back with my first recipe post in almost two weeks.

Last week, like so many, I put my content on hold. With everything that has been going on, it didn’t feel like the right time to tell you about food or cocktails. I also wanted to step aside and allow the Black food community to shine. And shine they did! I have discovered so many Black food photographers and bloggers this past week, and that’s just one tiny step.

While I am continuing to educate myself and my family about these events and trying to do better in my actual life (aka, embodying anti-racist values and practices while researching ways to make meaningful change), I think it’s time to talk to you about these cocktails I teased a couple weeks ago on Instagram.

These minty cucumber gin coolers just might be my favorite cocktail yet. And if you know me well, this shouldn’t surprise you.

We’re putting all of my favorite things in a glass.

Cucumber.

Mint.

Gin.

If there is a drink on a cocktail menu that mentions any of these three ingredients, I usually order it. Without fail.

Oh, and if you are not a gin fan, these work beautifully with vodka or light rum too! The vodka version is actually dangerous because you don’t taste the booze AT ALL. Just a warning!

Now, good things sometimes take a little extra effort. When it comes to homemade cocktails, I usually want something super simple. A margarita with freshly squeezed lime juice is about as complicated as it gets around here.

Every now and then, though, I am totally willing to go the extra mile.

This is one of those extra mile cocktails. It’s not DIFFICULT, but the recipe has a few extra steps. First, making cucumber juice. Don’t worry you don’t need a juicer for this – it happens all in the blender and doesn’t require any peeling or laborious chopping. We’re just going to put an English cucumber, roughly diced, and some water in a blender and blend the heck out of it until it’s juice!

You can strain out any residual pulp or just use the juice as is – totally a preference thing!

The next thing we need is a minty simple syrup. Just like any other simple syrup, we’re going to boil equal parts sugar and water together in a pan and once the sugar is dissolved, add in a bunch of fresh mint and allow it to steep as the syrup cools. That’s it!

The syrup is good in so many things. If you haven’t tried mint iced coffee yet, I beg you to give it a try! Get some good cold brew, add a splash of mint simple syrup and whatever milk/cream you love, and enjoy. It’s the most refreshing way to drink coffee, even if it does sound a little strange!

Once you have your cucumber juice and mint syrup ready to go, it’s cocktail time! See? Nothing too complicated; just a few extra steps that are SO worth it in the end. And the good news is that both components can be prepped a few days ahead and kept in the fridge.

To make the cocktail, we combine the cucumber juice, mint syrup, gin/vodka, and fresh lime juice in a shaker. Shake it well to chill and mix, and serve it over ice and garnished with a splash of seltzer for some effervescence and some fresh mint, cucumber slices, and a lime wedge.

It is the most refreshing (and dangerous) cocktail!

And it’s green, which must mean it’s kind of healthy, right?

Sure. Let’s just go with that.

Minty Cucumber Gin Coolers

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• Author: Molly
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: Makes 1 drink (easily multiplied, with leftover syrup and cucumber juice 1x

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Description

These Minty Cucumber Gin Coolers are a refreshing and delicious cocktail! Fresh cucumber juice, mint simple syrup, and herbaceous gin make this one special!

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Mint Simple Syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 bunch fresh mint (roughly 1 cup)

For the Cucumber Juice:

• 1 English cucumber, roughly chopped
• ½ cup water

For the Drink:

• Ice
• 1 oz mint simple syrup
• 2 oz cucumber juice
• 2 oz gin (vodka or light rum would also work here)
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• Seltzer, for topping off the glasses
• Cucumber slices, lime wedges, and mint sprigs, for garnish

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Instructions

For the Mint Simple Syrup:

1. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and set over medium heat.
2. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved.
3. Add in the mint and remove the pan from the heat. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature with the mint steeping in it. Strain out the mint and discard before using the syrup.

For the Cucumber Juice:

1. Add the cucumber and water to a blender and blend on high until the cucumber is completely blended smooth.
2. You can use the juice as is or you can strain it through a fine-mesh strainer before using. There will be a little bit of pulp after blending. If this does not bother you, you can skip the straining step!

For the Drink:

1. To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the mint simple syrup, cucumber juice, gin, and lime juice.
2. Shake well for a few seconds until everything is well combined and chilled.
3. Pour into a glass filled with ice. Top off the glass with cucumber slices, lime wedges, and fresh mint sprigs, as desired.

Notes

Both the syrup and cucumber juice can be made a couple days ahead and stored in airtight containers in the fridge. The cucumber juice may separate some; this is fine – just give it a good shake or stir before using.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Category: cocktails