Cucumber Gin Cooler

Name: Cucumber Gin Cooler
Prep time: PT0D0H5M
Cook time: PT0D0H0M
Total time: PT0D0H5M
Yield: Makes 4 cocktails
Ingredients: 8 oz. gin; 8 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from about 4 limes); ½ cup thinly sliced Persian or Kirby cucumber, scrubbed but not peeled; Tonic water; Lime wedges, for garnish

Starring crisp cucumber and tart lime juice, this summer sipper is a refreshing riff on the classic gin and tonic.

Serves
Makes 4 cocktails
Prep
5 minutes

PHOTO: MURRAY HALL • FOOD STYLING: TYNA HOANG

By SAVEUR Editors

Updated on August 15, 2024

This refreshing update on the classic gin and tonic is an easy sipper, thanks to summery cucumber slices and plenty of lime juice. You can use any gin you have on hand, but we’re partial to Hendrick’s, which has a slight cucumber flavor, for this cooler. A note on the cucumber slices: it may be tempting to nibble them out of your drink right away, but try to resist the urge. After several minutes’ contact with the lime juice, gin, and tonic water (about as long as it takes to finish the cocktail), they pickle ever so slightly, taking on a lovely crisp flavor.

Ingredients

8 oz. gin
8 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from about 4 limes)
½ cup thinly sliced Persian or Kirby cucumber, scrubbed but not peeled
Tonic water
Lime wedges, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1

To a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, add the gin, lime juice, and cucumber slices. Shake vigorously for 1–2 minutes, then strain into four ice-filled glasses, making sure the cucumber slices are evenly distributed. Top each glass with tonic water and garnish with a lime wedge.