This cilantro cucumber gin and tonic is a sophisticated take on the classic cocktail. (This post has been updated from its original September 2015 version.)
My relationship with gin started out rocky. I first tried it in a Negroni – at an age when it was still illegal for me to try a Negroni – and found it absolutely vile. How anyone could enjoy something so intensely sweet, bitter and herbal in the same glass was beyond me. Clearly, I was too young to appreciate the complexities of the classic Italian cocktail.
Then I met Rene, who loves gin. The first year he took me to Cape Cod, we arrived at the campsite after nightfall. The first thing he did was pour us celebratory gin and tonics in plastic cups and we took them down to the beach. I don’t know if it was the salty air, the dark woods, or just the excitement of being on vacation, but the drink went down superbly well. Since then, the G + T is my summer drink of choice.
This Cilantro Cucumber Gin and Tonic takes the G + T bliss to a whole other level. It’s refreshing, a little savory, and perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day. I love the grassy notes cilantro adds to this cocktail but if you’re in the cilantro-tastes-like-soap camp, feel free to use basil or dill instead.
PrintCilantro Cucumber Gin and Tonic
- Prep Time: 3 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktail
Description
This cilantro cucumber gin and tonic is a sophisticated take on the classic cocktail. If you’re in the cilantro-tastes-like-soap camp, feel free to use basil or dill instead.
Ingredients
- A few fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 small Persian or Kirby cucumber, partially peeled and sliced into thin rounds
- Ice
- 2 ounces gin
- 4 ounces tonic water
Instructions
Place the cilantro and lime juice in a glass. Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, muddle the cilantro until it is slightly bruised and broken down. Add a few of the cucumber slices, ice, gin, and tonic. Gently stir and enjoy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: 188
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
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