There's never been a drink that the food pyramid loved more than a cucumber martini. The cucumber's melon flavor blends beautifully with the botanical notes of a delicious dry gin. This rejuvenating cocktail is not only a delightful trip for your palette, but it can also help you get over your mid-day slump. After all, whoever said you couldn't order a cucumber martini for lunch?
How to Make a Crisp Cucumber Martini
What better way to start the day than by canceling out a little boozy poison with a healthy gift from your vegetable garden? If you're familiar with making gin martinis, then this one will be a breeze. Just make sure you serve your cocktail cold as the crisp and refreshing notes sing when it's chilled.
Ingredients
- 4 cucumber slices
- 3 ounces gin
- 1 bar spoon extra-dry vermouth
- Ice
- Thin cucumber slices and dill sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass.
- Put the cucumber in a mixing glass and muddle it.
- Add the gin, dry vermouth, and ice.
- Stir for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with the thin cucumber slices and a dill sprig.
For the best results, peel the cucumber before you muddle it. This will make muddling easier and release more of the cucumber's unique flavors.
Related: 9 Revitalizing Gin Spring Cocktails With Botanical Flare
Experiment With Variations and Substitutions
While this cocktail is a delightful botanical wonder, there's still plenty of wiggle room for you to play.
- Swap gin for vodka. Replace the gin with equal amounts of vodka for a delicious cucumber vodka drink.
- Experiment with different types of gin. For example, use Hendricks gin for a more floral flavor or Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin for more citrus and coriander notes.
- Lean into sweet & sour flavors. Muddle cucumber in a lemon drop martini to get a sweet-tart twist.
- Break out the basil. Muddle a few basil leaves with the cucumber for a more exciting flavor profile.
- Dig out the dill. Muddle some dill with the cucumber to add depth.
4 Exciting Garnishes to Try
Half of the fun of mixing cocktails is making them photo-ready with eye-catching garnishes. There are so many ways to play around with your cucumber martini's presentation.
- Support the botanical notes of this martini with a delicate, feathery piece of dill and a few cucumber slices.
- Garnish it with a citrus peel or a dried citrus slice.
- For an elegant and summery presentation, use an edible flower garnish.
- For a classy look, add a cucumber twist or ribbon.
Enjoy the Salad Days of Summer
Cucumbers are a quintessential summer ingredient, whether served in a salad or a cocktail. When paired with aromatic gin, they evoke simple, sultry summer evenings spent on the porch with a cool drink in hand. Say no more, we're in and we hope you join us!
