It's July now so summer is definitely here and all you really need is something to refresh your day. I mentioned this in the last monthly newsletter I sent and I am saying it again, summer isn't the best time to be in the kitchen, therefore I'm not a fan of this season very much. That's why I keep looking for very light meal ideas and easy dishes to create – all of this helps me, and others, pass these hot days.
This month I am sharing a drink recipe with you, one that I hope you will like. I love to have matcha ice tea during the sizzling days of summer but at the evening when I need something a bit stronger, I make this easy alcoholic drink of green gin. The drink is green because of the cucumbers in it. The cucumber adds a much-needed freshness to the drink and looks very pretty as a garnish too.
Usually in spa places they give you cucumber water to drink because the cucumbers add a refreshing element to the water, this is their purpose here too, because it is so hot you want to drink but without the heavy feeling afterwards. The cucumbers makes the drink lighter and very fun to drink.
Besides the cucumbers, the drink contains gin, vermouth Bianco (white) and sugar water. The vermouth is wine that has been flavored with various herbs and spices and used in many classic cocktails like Manhattan, Negroni and martini. To create the sugar water, you simply cook an equal amount of sugar and water (½ cup of each) until all the sugar is dissolved in the water. I truly recommend that you have all equipment to make the drink properly. This includes a mixing glass with a lid that has a strainer in it too, and a jigger to measure the amounts of the ingredients accurately. There are more cool tools but they are extra and you do not have to have them. I added the ingredient amounts in ounces as well if it is easier for you.
If you are having guests, you can try other recipes of drinks I shared and impress your guests with your bartending skills. I am sure they would love seeing you mixing and creating fancy drinks for them!
Here is the recipe for the green gin cocktail:
Green Gin
Ingredients
- 3 thick slices of cucumber
- 45 ml (1.5 oz.) gin
- 25 ml (0.85 oz.) Vermouth Bianco
- 25 ml (0.85 oz.) lemon juice
- 25 ml (0.85 oz.) sugar water
- 10 ice cubes
- 30 ml (1 oz.) sparkling water
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, muddle the cucumber slices well.
- Add vermouth, gin, lemon juice and sugar water, close the glass with the lid and shake.
- In the serving glass, place a thin slice of cucumber on the glass sides.
- Add a few ice cubes to the glass and pour the drink through the sift on the mixing glass lid.
- Top the drink with sparkling water.
- Cheers and happy summer!
Notes
