If you like to drink green for St. Patrick's Day and want to do it naturally you can't go wrong with fresh, organic cucumbers, fresh mint, limes and a really great gin. This is almost a classic flavor profile as mint and cucumber are often paired together, especially in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. Add a little of that gin and you have the makings of a bracing, cool cocktail to enjoy.
I had a little fun with this one by slicing my cucumbers lengthwise and lining the glass with them before I added my large ice cubes. It made for a beautiful presentation.
If you have a set of aspic cutters with a shamrock shape it would be fun to cut some out of the mint leaves ahead of time for a great St. Patrick's Day touch. (I do and wish I'd thought of it before the photo shoot!)
The
MINT GINCUMBER
COOLER
INGREDIENTS
MINT GINCUMBER
COOLER
INGREDIENTS
2 Oz Hendrick's Gin
1/2 Oz Dry Vermouth
2-1/2 Oz Cucumber Juice
1/4 Oz Lime Juice
4 Mint Leaves
1-1/2 Oz Mint Honey Syrup
(* Recipe Below)
1/2 Oz Dry Vermouth
2-1/2 Oz Cucumber Juice
1/4 Oz Lime Juice
4 Mint Leaves
1-1/2 Oz Mint Honey Syrup
(* Recipe Below)
Additional Ingredients: 2 Large Square Ice Cubes, Cup of Regular Ice Cubes
Garnish: 8 - 10 Long Cucumber Slices, 3 Tall Mint Sprigs
Tools: Vegetable Peeler, Kitchen Shears, Mixing Glass, Barspoon, Hawthorne Strainer
Glass: Tall Glass Mug
DIRECTIONS
Slice a fresh cucumber lengthwise with a vegetable peeler until you have 8 to 10 long slices.
Press the cucumber slices against the inside of the glass mug then add the ice cubes.
Trim the cucumber slices off at the rim of the glass with kitchen shears and chill glass in the fridge.
Juice the remainder of the cucumber and the 4 leaves of mint together and add to the cooled mixing glass filled with ice.
Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing glass, stir for one minute then stain into the chilled, cucumber lined mug.
Garnish with the mint sprigs and serve.
Slice a fresh cucumber lengthwise with a vegetable peeler until you have 8 to 10 long slices.
Press the cucumber slices against the inside of the glass mug then add the ice cubes.
Trim the cucumber slices off at the rim of the glass with kitchen shears and chill glass in the fridge.
Juice the remainder of the cucumber and the 4 leaves of mint together and add to the cooled mixing glass filled with ice.
Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing glass, stir for one minute then stain into the chilled, cucumber lined mug.
Garnish with the mint sprigs and serve.
* MINT HONEY SYRUP
Add 2 tablespoons of organic honey to 1 tablespoon of water and stir until the honey has completely dissolved. If your honey is stubborn, microwave the syrup for 10 seconds and mix until smooth.
Add 2 tablespoons of organic honey to 1 tablespoon of water and stir until the honey has completely dissolved. If your honey is stubborn, microwave the syrup for 10 seconds and mix until smooth.