Cucumber Mint Martini

A refreshing cocktail is a necessity for a hot summer day. I think cucumber is practically made for this purpose. Well, that and salads, which are also excellent for the summertime. But I digress–this is all about how cucumber cocktails. Specifically, this Cucumber Mint Martini recipe I recently found on my Pinterest beverage recipe board. I don’t think I’ve ever tried mint with cucumber, so I’m really curious how well they pair. My theory is they taste great together, but there’s only one way to find out…

This refreshing cucumber mint martini is also very delicious and simple to make.

The Ingredients

Let’s start with the all-important cucumbers. The recipe doesn’t specify the type, but I found tiny seedless cucumbers that seemed perfect. I imagine you can also use a regular seedless cucumber or a conventional seeded cucumber too. There will be leftovers either way, so plan accordingly if you don’t want them to go to waste.

The rest of the ingredients were rather ordinary and easy to find. A couple of limes and a package of mint from the grocery store. And, of course, a bottle of vodka from the liquor store. I make my own simple syrup (recipe below), but you can also buy it at most liquor stores.

The Process

Making my Cucumber Mint Martini took 5 minutes, exactly as listed on the recipe. The process was very straightforward and went according to the instructions for the most part.

I got started by muddling the cucumber and mint with the lime juice and simple syrup (I used 1 ounce–1/2 wasn’t quite enough for my taste). The author says she muddled for about 3 minutes without obliterating the cucumber and mint, so I tried to do the same. Then it was into a cocktail shaker with the vodka and some ice to blend and chill.

Despite being very gently with the muddler, I found the cucumber and mint were indeed obliterated when I went to scoop them out and add a few pieces to the cocktail as instructed. Fortunately, I had plenty of leftover cucumber and mint leaves, so I added some extras to the martini glass as a garnish.

Simple Syrup

The Hungry Pinner

A quick and easy-to-make staple of any well-stocked bar. This recipe yields approximately 12 ounces of simple syrup.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Cool 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Servings 12 1-ounce servings

Calories 63 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar of your choice (I use organic sugar, which gives the syrup an amber tinge)

Instructions

 

• In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium and add the sugar. Stir until dissolved (the mixture will become clear when the sugar is dissolved).
• Remove from heat and allow to cool. The simple syrup can be refrigerated in a bottle or other airtight container for up to 4 weeks.

Keyword bartending, mixology, simple syrup, sugar