This refreshing Cucumber Gin & Tonic Cocktail is an easy and delicious twist on the classic G&T. This crisp and cooling drink is the best summer cocktail out there!
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An Easy Cucumber Gin Cocktail Recipe
I love an easy gin cocktail during the Summer! My Pink Grapefruit Gin Cocktail is one of my favorite go-to cocktail recipes ever. But this cucumber G&T might become my new winner!
This cucumber gin cocktail is so light and refreshing. It is a well-balanced drink that can easily be adapted to your exact preferences.
Cucumber complements the flavor of gin perfectly. And this Cucumber Gin & Tonic is served chilled which makes this drink perfectly crisp, cold, and refreshing!
A common featured botanical in gin itself, cucumber is a simple ingredient that adds a hint of grassy sweetness to cocktails without it being overly sweet. Cucumber is also a natural hydrator, which makes it a welcome addition to any long Summer drink.
The cucumber and gin are paired with fresh limes and lots of fizzy tonic water which brightens the drink and makes it even more refreshing and delicious! By balancing cooling, calm flavors with some bright notes this drink is the perfect refreshing reward after a long, hot day.
Want to learn more about which flavors mix best with gin? Check out our THE BEST MIXERS FOR GIN post!
Ingredients & Notes
- Gin - You can use your favorite type and brand of gin. Some of my favorites include Empress Gin and Tanqueray Gin, these are both great options for making cocktails. (Alternatively, to make a non-alcoholic gin mocktail version, omit the gin entirely or replace it with your favorite non-alcoholic version)
- Lime Juice - Use freshly squeezed for the best flavor.
- Tonic Water - Gin and tonics are traditionally topped with fizzy tonic water - but if you prefer some extra sweetness, you could use lemonade, limeade, or Sprite instead.
- Cucumber - Fresh cucumber for garnish as well as for flavoring the cocktail.
- Ice - This keeps the cocktail chilled and refreshing.
Choosing your gin
The quality of the gin will greatly affect the taste of your cocktail. Try it out with a few different types of gins to see which one you like best. Different gins all have different flavor undertones and you'll definitely like some more than others.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GIN
- London Dry Gin - With a strong juniper taste this type of gin is definitely the most popular gin.
- Plymouth Gin - This gin is even dryer than London Dry Gin and has a slightly spicier flavor.
- Old Tom Gin - With added licorice, this type of gin is slightly sweeter than your typical gins.
- Genever Gin - This is the original, first gin that comes from The Netherlands. It is sweet and aromatic and is often used in cocktails.
How To Make A Cucumber Gin & Tonic Cocktail
The best thing about this gin cocktail recipe is that it is incredibly easy to make and only uses a few simple ingredients that are easy to find year-round. To make this tasty cocktail follow the simple instructions below or find a detailed recipe at the end of this post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One: In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lime juice and cucumber pieces for a minute or two.
Step Two: Add the gin and ice cubes. Give it a good shake - about one minute.
Step Three: Fill two serving glasses with ice and strain the drink into the glasses.
Step Four: Top with tonic water and garnish with cucumber slices, lime, or mint.
HOW TO MAKE A MOCKTAIL VERSION
To turn this cucumber and gin cocktail into a mocktail, simply leave out the gin from the recipe. The drink will still be full of flavor and absolutely delicious.
Another option is to replace the gin in the recipe with your favorite non-alcoholic gin to create a delicious mocktail. This will add some gin flavors without any alcohol.
How To Muddle Cucumber for Cocktails
The best way to muddle cucumber is to use a cocktail muddler. But a spoon does the trick too if you don't have a traditional muddler.
To muddle the cucumber, dice the cucumbers, place them in a cocktail shaker (or jar) and then press down firmly using your spoon or cocktail muddler. Muddle until the cucumbers are macerated and have released some of their juices.
The cucmber is then ready to realease its refreshing flavor into the drink! It really is that easy!
How to cut cucumber to garnish gin and tonic:
Slice the cucumber lengthwise into a ¼-inch wide strip using a vegetable peeler or sharp knife. Cutting your cucumber this way allows the maximum flavor and makes the drink look refreshing and unique. The longer cucumber cut will infuse the drink with more cucumber flavor than a traditional cut disk of cucumber.
Gin and Tonic Cocktail FAQS
Almost any gin works well with cucumber. Gordon's Dry Gin and Empress Gin are great gin options for making gin cocktails with cucumber as their flavor profiles combine well with cucmber.
Gin is considered one of the healthiest alcohols as it is made with juniper berries and contains herbs that aid in digestion.
Sprite is a perfect mixer for gin. The sweetness from the Sprite balances out the dryness from the gin. If you prefer a sweeter gin cucumber cocktail, use Sprite instead of club soda or tonic water.
Gin does not need to be refrigerated. If you're planning on making a refreshing cocktail then keeping your gin in the fridge is always a simple way to make sure your cocktail is cold and delicious.
Easy Cucumber Gin Cocktail
A refreshing twist on a classic G&T recipe. This Cucumber Gin and Tonic Cocktail is made with fresh lime, cucumber, and lots of fizz.
Ingredients
- ½ cup diced cucumber
- Juice from 1 lime
- 4 ounces gin
- 8 ounces tonic water
- Extra cucumber for garnish (cut into strips or disks)
Instructions
- Place diced cucumber and lime juice in a cocktail shaker and muddle using a spoon or cocktail muddler.
- Add the gin and shake well.
- Fill two serving glasses with ice and strain the cocktail mixture between the two glasses.
- Top with tonic water and garnish with fresh thin slices of cucumber. Alternatively, you can garnish with lime wheels or fresh mint!
Notes
HOW TO MAKE A MOCKTAIL VERSION
To turn this cucumber and gin cocktail into a mocktail, simply leave out the gin from the recipe. The drink will still be full of flavor and absolutely delicious.
Another option is to replace the gin in the recipe with your favorite non-alcoholic gin to create a delicious mocktail. This will add some gin flavors without any alcohol.
More Gin Cocktail Recipes:
- Pink Grapefruit Gin Cocktail
- Fig & Thyme Gin Cocktail
- Blueberry Gin Mocktail
- Blueberry Gin Sour
- Aperol Gin Sour
I hope you love this Cucumber Gin & Tonic Cocktail recipe as much as I do! And if you want to see more of my food adventures, follow me on Instagram or Facebook.
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