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Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet Recipe

Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet Recipe

Learn how to make the best homemade Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet with this easy craft cocktail recipe. This refreshing twist on a classic combines fresh cucumber, delicate elderflower liqueur, and bright lime for a perfectly balanced spring or summer sipper that's both elegant and simple to prepare at home.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Prep Time:
8 mins
Cook Time:
Serves:
1 cocktail
A crystal Nick & Nora glass filled with a pale jade-green cocktail, illuminated by soft natural daylight streaming through a window. Droplets of condensation cling to the outside while a translucent cucumber ribbon spirals inside, reaching above the rim. A lime wheel balances on the edge, partially submerged in the drink. The liquid catches the light, revealing botanical particles suspended throughout. A marble bar top reflects the glass's silhouette while fresh cucumber slices and elderflowers are artfully scattered nearby, hinting at the cocktail's key ingredients.

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"> <li class="ingredients-single-item">50ml gin</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">20ml St-Germain elderflower liqueur (or other elderflower liqueur)</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">20ml fresh lime juice</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml simple syrup</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">3 thin cucumber slices, plus 1 ribbon for garnish</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">1 lime wheel for garnish</li> </ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"> <li class="equipment-single-item">Cocktail shaker</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Hawthorne strainer</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Fine-mesh strainer</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Jigger or measuring tool</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Muddler</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Vegetable peeler (for cucumber ribbon)</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Nick & Nora or coupe glass</li> </ul>
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Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4> Chill your Nick & Nora or coupe glass by filling it with ice and water while you prepare the cocktail. This ensures your drink will stay colder longer when served. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4> Using a vegetable peeler, create one long, thin ribbon from a cucumber for garnish. Set aside. Slice three thin rounds from the cucumber for muddling. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4> Place the cucumber slices in your cocktail shaker and gently muddle to release their flavor. Don't over-muddle; 5-6 light presses will extract the cucumber essence without releasing bitter compounds. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4> Add the gin, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker. Fill the shaker 3/4 full with ice. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4> Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds. This duration achieves proper dilution and temperature while incorporating tiny air bubbles that give the cocktail a silky texture. The shaker should become frosty on the outside. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4> Empty the ice water from your chilled glass. Double-strain the cocktail through both a Hawthorne strainer and fine-mesh strainer into your prepared glass. This removes ice shards and cucumber particles while preserving the drink's smooth texture. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4> Garnish by draping the cucumber ribbon in a spiral inside the glass, allowing it to rise slightly above the rim. Place a lime wheel on the edge of the glass. The aromatics from both garnishes will enhance the drinking experience. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4> Serve immediately while the cocktail is perfectly chilled. The pale jade-green color should be clear and bright, with delicate botanical aromas rising from the glass. </li> </ol>

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

🍽️ Serving Size: 1 cocktail
🔥 Calories: 165 calories
🥑 Fat: 0 g
🧈 Saturated Fat: 0 g
🍞 Carbohydrates: 12 g
🍭 Sugar: 10 g
🍗 Protein: 0 g
🫀 Cholesterol: 0 mg
🧂 Sodium: 4 mg

Chef’s Notes

A few helpful details for making this recipe.

What ingredients are used in Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet Recipe?

This refreshing cocktail requires gin, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, cucumber slices, and a lime wheel for garnish. The botanical combination creates a perfectly balanced summer sipper with bright, garden-fresh flavours.

How to make Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet Recipe at home?

Learn how to make Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet Recipe by muddling cucumber slices, adding gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice, shaking vigorously for 12-15 seconds, then double-straining into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a spiral cucumber ribbon and lime wheel for an elegant presentation.

What's the best gin to use for a cucumber-based gimlet?

London Dry gins like Hendrick's (which already has cucumber notes) work brilliantly, but any premium gin with botanical character will complement the cucumber. Avoid heavily juniper-forward gins as they might overpower the delicate cucumber and elderflower flavours.

Can I make this cocktail without alcohol for a mocktail version?

Absolutely! Replace gin with cucumber-infused water or tonic, and substitute elderflower liqueur with elderflower cordial or syrup. Add a splash of soda water for effervescence. The cucumber and elderflower combination works beautifully in non-alcoholic form.

Why is double-straining recommended for this gimlet?

Double-straining (using both a Hawthorne and fine-mesh strainer) removes cucumber particles and ice shards, resulting in a silky-smooth texture and elegant appearance. This technique is essential for achieving the cocktail's characteristic jade-green clarity.

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Absolutely restaurant quality!", "name": "Elegant and Perfectly Balanced", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": "5" } }, { "@type": "Review", "author": "Aisha Ndiaye", "datePublished": "2024-05-25", "reviewBody": "Served these at my garden party last weekend and everyone was asking for the recipe! The cucumber ribbon garnish made them look so sophisticated. The lime and elderflower complement each other beautifully.", "name": "Garden Party Star", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": "5" } }, { "@type": "Review", "author": "Mikhail Petrov", "datePublished": "2024-05-27", "reviewBody": "As a bartender, I appreciate well-crafted recipes and this one is excellent. The proportions are spot on and the muddling technique advice is crucial for avoiding bitterness. 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