Cheeky Cucumber Gimlet
Our Cheeky Cucumber Gimlet is a refreshing libation that is perfect to enjoy all year round, but especially during spring and summertime when fresh cucumbers are prolific in so many gardens. This easy cocktail recipe for two uses only 4-ingredients.
It’s a great drink to serve when you are entertaining, as it can be made ahead of time and increased to entertain a crowd. This tasty drink has a cool and crisp flavor that is not too sweet and absolutely delicious! Read more about how we came across this recipe in our Blog Comments & Tips below.
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RECIPE
(Check out our Step by Step Instructions below the recipe card.)
CHEEKY CUCUMBER GIMLET
Ingredients
Instructions
- To a small saucepan (1.5 quart), add sugar and water, and bring to a boil on medium heat while stirring to combine. Once it reaches a boil and the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat, and let cool completely (see Note #1)
- Peel cucumber, and cut into large chunks. Add cucumber to a high speed blender, and purée until smooth (about 10 to 15 seconds).
- To a cocktail shaker, add ice cubes, 3 ounces of pureed cucumber, lime juice, only 1 ounce simple syrup, and gin (see Note #2). Cover, shake vigorously, and strain into ice filled 9 ounce rocks glasses. Garnish with a lime wheel or cucumber slice, and serve immediately!
Notes
- Simple Syrup recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. These 12 ounce canning jars work great for storing small quantities of Simple Syrup.
- We recommend using The Botanist Gin for its botanical notes, but of course you can use your favorite gin in this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
195.14Fat (grams)
0.18Sat. Fat (grams)
0.06Carbs (grams)
17.01Fiber (grams)
0.81Net carbs
16.2Sugar (grams)
13.12Protein (grams)
1.03Sodium (milligrams)
14.04Cholesterol (grams)
0Nutritional information provided is strictly an estimate and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods. Nutritional calculations for each cocktail only include 1 ounce of Simple Syrup, and do not include the values for the entire Simple Syrup recipe.
Step by Step Instructions
Simple Syrup
SIMPLE SYRUP PREPARATION
Organize all your tools and ingredients before you begin. Getting all your ingredients in one place at the beginning will shorten your prep time.
Note: This Simple Syrup recipe can be made in advance. See Note in Step 1
STEP 1
To a small saucepan (1.5 quart), add ½ cup granulated sugar, and ½ cup filtered water, and bring to a boil on medium heat while stirring to combine. Once it reaches a boil and the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat, and let cool completely (see Note below).
Note: Simple Syrup recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. These 12 ounce canning jars work great for storing small quantities of Simple Syrup.
Cocktail
COCKTAIL PREPARATION
Organize all your tools and ingredients before you begin. Getting all your ingredients in one place at the beginning will shorten your prep time.
STEP 1
Squeeze 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice, and set aside.
STEP 2
Cut 1 large organic English cucumber into large chunks (see Note below). Add cucumber chunks to a high speed blender, and purée until smooth (about 10 to 15 seconds).
Note: Organic English cucumbers have such a thin skin that there is no need to peel them. However, if you are using a regular cucumber (with thicker skin and more seeds), we recommend peeling and deseeding it first.
STEP 3
To a cocktail shaker, add ice cubes, 3 ounces of pureed cucumber, fresh squeezed lime juice, 1 ounce simple syrup, and 4 ounces gin (see Note below). Cover, shake vigorously.
Note: We recommend using The Botanist Gin for its botanical notes, but of course you can use your favorite gin in this recipe.
SERVING
Strain into ice filled 9 ounce rocks glasses. Garnish with a lime wheel or cucumber slice, and serve immediately!
Note: For other recipe variations, see the Pimp Our Recipe section in our Blog Comments & Tips below.
Notes:
Recipe can be made ahead!
Makes 2 servings, but can be made ahead and increased to serve a crowd.
Blog Comments & Tips
A Cool & Refreshing Cocktail!
Although our Cheeky Cucumber Gimlet is a twist from the original gimlet recipe, we think you will love it as much as we do! It was fascinating to learn about the history of the gimlet cocktail. And, it was no surprise to find out that this libation has British roots.
The story goes that this cocktail was invented in the late 1800s by its namesake, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette (who was a doctor). It is said that the original gimlet cocktail was first created as a type of medicinal tonic given to sailors to ward off scurvy. Caused by a vitamin C deficiency, scurvy could easily be prevented by drinking citrus juice. With plenty of lime juice in this concoction, it became a “healthful” drink for sailors and eventually referred to as “grog.”
We can’t exactly claim that it’s healthy, but our Cheeky Cucumber Gimlet is as tasty and cool as a cucumber! Made with The Botanist Gin, simple syrup, plenty of cucumber, and fresh lime juice, this refreshing cocktail may become your new favorite summertime drink, as it has mine!
After enjoying this tasty cocktail during a lovely visit at my friend Laura’s home last year, I immediately asked her for the recipe. That day she used fresh Japanese cucumbers that she grew in her garden, and believe me, it made a difference! Such a wonderful and memorable drink that even one year later, I am excited to share on our food blog.
If you have been following us for a while, you’ll know that we never use a recipe without tweaking it first. And, it was no different with this recipe. Although the original Cucumber Gimlet recipe she used from Food & Wine Magazine was absolutely yummy, we of course changed it up a bit to make it our own.
Instead of muddling the cucumbers, we pureed them in order to yield a fresher and more intense cucumber flavor. Pairing the fresh cucumber and lime juice with The Botanist Gin gave this cocktail the loveliest floral and botanical notes.
It’s so perfect for spring and summer, too! After tasting this cocktail, don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to grow your own cucumbers! Even my husband (who is not a fan of cucumbers) loves this cocktail!
How do you ensure the best results from our recipe?
Our 3 tips to making a fantastic Cheeky Cucumber Gimlet!
Use high quality ingredients. Use organic English cucumbers, as they have thinner skin and fewer seeds. The bonus is they don’t need to be peeled. If you have a garden with fresh cucumbers, then using your own would be the best possible option! If using a regular cucumber, we definitely recommend peeling the skin.
We prefer using The Botanist Gin because of its botanical notes, but you can use your favorite gin instead.
Use fresh squeezed lime juice. Although most gimlets are made with bottled lime juice, we do not recommend it as it gives a preservative taste to the cocktail. Fresh is always best!
Have any dietary preferences that won’t quite work with our recipe? It’s time to customize and Pimp Our Recipe.
Pimp Our Recipe:
Make it Spicy: Add 1 or 2 slices of deseeded jalapeño or serrano pepper to the blender for each serving. Or you could muddle the peppers instead. Garnish each drink by skewing a wedge of lime and slice of pepper on a cocktail pick.
Don’t have time to make simple syrup? Use the same amount of agave instead. It will add a warmth to the cocktail, whereas simple syrup has a clean taste that only adds sweetness to the drink.
Enjoy and let us know what you think by commenting below, rating our recipes, subscribing, following, and liking us on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube! Don’t forget to subscribe to get updates on new recipes and tips & tricks.
Santé!
Mich
Footnote: Remember to use fresh squeezed lime juice for this recipe. That bottled lime juice just will not do!
Adapted from the Cucumber Gimlet recipe by Food & Wine Magazine. Thank you to Micheline’s friend Laura for sharing this recipe. We’ve changed up the original recipe by blending the cucumbers instead of muddling them, and adjusting the ratios a bit to make it a smoother cocktail.
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