I’ve been thinking about your weekend.
I actually started thinking about your weekend last Monday… that’s how I operate.
I was thinking that these Cucumber Gin Salt and Pepper Cups would be an amazing addition to your sleeping in, late breakfasting, and shoe shopping. ย That’s totally your weekend right? ย Stress-free and shoppy? ย I know… me neither. ย But at least we can make the weekend gin-y and super fresh!
Happy Weekend to you!
I made this cocktail look like science. ย Really it’s just a boozy mixture with fresh cucumber juice, lime, and sparkling water. ย It’s like the science and boozy version of spa water. ย Minus the science, plus the glass beakers. ย You know.
The juices and gin are stirred with ice. ย Cucumber juice is so refreshing, light, and green! ย I love the tint it adds to the cocktail. ย Lime adds a much needed mouth-pucker. ย There’s also a bit of sweetness to round out this cocktail. ย I made a devastatingly easy simple syrup. ย If you’ve never made simple syrup, it’s a mixture of equal parts water and sugar heated until the syrup dissolves. ย It’s the best way to sweeten a cocktail without trying to dissolve granulated sugar in cold gin.
Now… if you want to talk about cucumber juice, you should know that it’s super easy to make with a juicer. ย If you don’t have a juicer, blending cucumber in a food processor and then pressing it through a fine mesh strainer works, it’s just a bit more time-consuming.
Also… if you want to talk about my creepy fingers, that topic is actually closed for discussion.
Salt and pepper too!? ย Heck yes! ย The salt and pepper add the perfect compliment to the sweet/tart/fresh nature of the cocktail. ย Salt enhances the flavors. ย Pepper adds just a hint of heat, but it’s super subtle.
These cocktails were inspired by a cocktail I had at the Soho House. ย I had one, and now we all should enjoy.
Cucumber and Gin Salt and Pepper Cups
serves 4
lots of ice
1 cup gin
1 cup cucumber juice*
1/2 cup lime juice**
1/3 cup simple syrup
2 cups sparkling water
sliced cucumber rounds
coarse sea salt
cracked black peppercorns
* I used my juicer to make cucumber juice. ย If you don’t have a juicer making cucumber juice can be a bit trickier. ย Blending cucumber in a food processor and pressing it through a fine mesh strainer works though it is slightly more time consuming.
** Simple syrup is a mixture of equal parts sugar and water heated until the sugar dissolves. Heat 1/3 cup water with 1/3 cup granulated sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.
In a large glass pitcher filled with ice, stir together gin, cucumber juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. ย Stir until combined and chilled. ย Stir in sparkling water. ย Pour over ice and garnish with cucumber slices, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. ย Serve immediately. ย
59 Responses
Some of these comments about your hands crack me up. But seriously, before I read what you said about “creepy fingers” I was admiring your model hands. I mean that in the least creepy way possible. Any who, I love the sound of this drink. I’ve always been a little hesitant of gin, however, I’m sure if I had it in something you recommend it would be grand!
Joy,
Could you soak cucumbers in the gin overnight instead? I know when I soak them in water, it ends up very cucumber-y.
i bet that would be lovely!
Made this drink last night, and it was lovely! I don’t have a juicer, nor do I have a super fine sieve, so I just pushed the hand-blended cucumber through the sieve I had, and it was still great – a little thicker that yours, but it was really nice anyways!