I love all of the refreshing cocktails that I’ve been seeing lately so I thought I would join the party. This sweet cucumber drink is delicious both as a cocktail and as a non-alcoholic refresher. I’ve had it both ways many times. The first time I had it was a few months ago when my brother-in-law made the cucumber cocktail for me. I loved it then and I love it now!
My BIL acquired this recipe from “Johnny the bartender” in Austin, TX. It was Johnny’s creation and he asked my BIL to try it. Needless to say my BIL loved it and, being the east Texas boy he is, he easily talked Johnny into sharing the recipe. So I credit this recipe to Johnny, wherever you are. I hope I’ve done your drink justice.
Sweet Cucumber Beverage (Cocktail)
“*” See Kitchen Notes for more information or links to special ingredients.
- 2 oz. (4 Tbsp. or ¼ cup) Vodka (optional)
- 3/4 oz. (1 ½ Tbsp) Agave Nectar
- 1/2 oz. (1 Tbsp) Lime Juice
- 8 Slices Cucumber
- 4 sprigs of Mint
- Club Soda or sparkling mineral water
- Place the vodka, agave nectar, lime juice, 2 sprigs of mint and 4 slices of cucumber in shaker with ice.
- Shake and strain into 2 tall highball glasses filled 3/4 with ice and a couple slices of cucumber.
- Top off with Club Soda or mineral water. Gently stir to blend in the sparkling water.
- Top each glass off with a sprig of mint.
I don’t have a shaker so I put the first five ingredients in a large glass, stir, then add some crushed ice and stir vigorously for a few seconds. At this point I divide between two glasses and follow the rest of the instructions.
Virgin cocktail – It’s just as good without the vodka. I’ve made it several times for when I just wanted something refreshing and cold to drink, sitting on the porch reading a good book.
The first time I took a sip of this cocktail it reminded me of a local restaurant that serves water with a cucumber slice instead of lemon. For some reason the cucumber imparts a freshness that I like better than lemon. This cocktail does the same. It’s so summery and refreshing!
For great information on cocktails and ideas on making some of the classics as well as new drinks, be sure to check out the cocktail series on Kitchen Riffs. While there, check out the gorgeous photography! It was Kitchen Riffs’ drink photography that inspired the second shot in this post. Being new to photography, I find photographing drinks very challenging; therefore, I took LOTS of pictures in different settings to test the results. It was fun!
This wonderful cucumber drink was voted up to the Foodbuzz Top 9 on June 19, 2012!
This Cucumber Drink was selected by Season With Spice as one of their Summer Season 2012 Editor Picks and picked by Fox News as a Delightful Kentucky Derby Drink!
If you enjoy this cucumber beverage, then you’ll enjoy these other beverages as well:
Congratulations! We wanted to inform you that this post has been selected as a Featured Archive Post on our site for the month of July 2013!
Thanks Food Frenzy!
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This is a cool, cool recipe!!! Love it!
All you need to do is mix some of the shrub with soda water, club soda, ginger ale or a lemon lime soda and you have a super refreshing drink. The really fun part about these vinegar drinks is that you can do all kinds of things with them.
Mj,
This looks super delish and refreshing for the summer. Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday last week. I can’t wait to see what you link up next. Have a great week.
Michelle
This looks absolutely refreshing and delicious!! It’s almost like a cucumber mojito? I’m going to have to try this (although I may have to settle for just a few sips or the virgin until my daughter’s weaned). Thanks for sharing!
This sounds so refreshing, can’t wait to try. It is so HOT down here and this drink makes me feel cool inside. Thanks for sharing.
Such a refreshing drink for summer! I am all with the grown up version, but the alternate sounds very refreshing as well 🙂
Happy summer to you and hope you had a wonderful weekend 😉
Just pinned your great recipe, thanks for sharing on Full Plate Thursday and hope you are having a great week end!
Miz Helen
I’ve had cucumbers in plain water and they do have a nice flavor. This is really kicking it up though… really nice looking drink. thanks for sharing it on foodie friday.
Simply fabulous! Cucumber is so refreshing and the mint is an excellent twist.
This sounds lovely, with or without the alcohol. What a refreshing summer cocktail!
Thank you for this recipe! I had a similar cucumber drink (virgin) at the Wynn in Las Vegas. It was a visually impressive refresher – and yours looks even better! I can’t wait to try it! Congratulations on the “Foodbuzz Top 9” vote! Allen.
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I love cucumber in my drinks and this looks right up my alley! I actually just posted a cucumber water today – but when I want a cocktail I’ll definitely reach for this.
There is something so refreshing about cucumber and mint together. Great drink!
and congrats on Top9!
Hi MJ – finally sending my first greeting since we arrived in the States. How uncanny to see your cucumber drink recipe! My last cocktail in Malaysia was a glass of cucumber, mint with pineapple mojito. Yep, speaking of tropical flavors in a glass. It;s been a whirlwind of traveling for us, so I’m thankful to be reminded of my last days in my home country. Can’t wait to get back to the kitchen soon! Happy summer!
Thanks Reese! Oh I love the idea of adding pineapple to this! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip but tiring as vacations can be. Glad I was able to welcome you home with a pleasant reminder of your last days! Look forward to seeing you back in the kitchen!
Thanks everyone for your comments, congratulations and on-going support! Love you all!!!!
Looks so refreshing! Congrats on top 9!
This is new to me and sound absolutely delicious!!I cannot wait to try it!!Perfect for these summer days!!Congrats on Top 9!!!
Yay…congrats MJ! Glad to see this luscious drink in the Top 9! : )
I LOVE this sweet cucumber drink!! I can totally see myself switching out the vodka for tequila, oh this is happening soon, is it Friday yet? love it!
What a cool and refreshing drink! I can sure do with one of these in the hot and humid tropics I am in right now. Love the second shot! 🙂
Wow, this looks fabulous–and so refreshing. I can see why it goes down easy!
What an interesting drink, MJ! Never saw anything like this 🙂
What a fun drink! It looks so incredibly refreshing.
What a refreshing drink for the Summer months!! I have cucumbers fresh from the garden waiting in the fridge. Thanks for the recipe.
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Isn’t it amazing how much flavour cucumber imparts? I was equally surprised the first time I tried cucumber water at a girlfriend’s house. I thought the cucumber looked very pretty in the pitcher but never expected the water to actually take on the essence of cucumber, and yet… I have been serving it to clients ever since! This drink looks so wonderfully refreshing and summer perfect MJ. I also happen to love how it is vaguely reminiscent of mojito 😉 with its lime and mint… the agave nectar sounds perfect here. Lovely.
I love the idea of a cucumber cocktail! I’ve never tried one but would absolutely LOVE to give it a go! 🙂
SO lovely and refreshing! And who can resist a cocktail this beautiful?
This is my first time seeing the use of cucumber for sweet drinks! Looks very refreshing!
I am loving this MJ. Looks so refreshing. cucumbers are cool, and tasty.
I love cucumber water so I can imagine that this would be so good. I am going to add it to my Mouth Watering Mondays post tomorrow. Come on by to see it at http://www.noshingwiththenolands.com Cheers, Tara
One of my favorite drinks is similar to this except we use gin. I look forward to trying it out with vodka! Nice.
Cucumber drink? I like the sound of that especially since it’s summer(or not 😛 )!
MJ, it sounds fabulous and so original! I’m a big cucumber fan (I have it constantly in my fridge, all year long!) and even agave syrup is my staple since I discovered its healthy side. You can be sure I will try it soon. Thank you for sharing this unusual recipe.
Wow, thanks for the nice words and the link love! Very nice of you to do. Isn’t photographing cocktails fun? Although it can be really difficult, too. But so satisfying when you get it right. And this drink? Super sounding! Really refreshing, and it looks gorgeous. Great food styling on the photography, too!
Thanks KR!!!! I appreciate your feedback since you were my inspiration! 🙂
I never had tried cucumbers on drink, this really intrigued me so I will be making one
What a beautiful, refreshing cocktail, MJ! I love it! I was going to try a similar one made with gin. Cucumbers are so refreshing in drinks. I even love just a cucumber flavored water. And your pictures are so pretty! Looks good! Make mine a double!
Interesting addition, with the cucumber – I never tried a cucumber drink before, must be very refreshing though! You make it look incredible in the last photo!
Did you know there a cucumber liqueur?
thanks Charles! No I did not know there was a cucumber liqueur! I’ll have to check it out! Sounds good!
Look at this refreshing drink! You took such great pictures of cold drinks! SF has 80F weather today. It’s crazy hot and this sounds just perfect. I’m cooling down by looking at it… 🙂 Thanks to the bartender Johnny! He’s now famous thanks to you! 😉
Thanks Nami! I’ll trade you your 80 degrees weather for our 90 degrees! 🙂
I have never had a cucumber drink before but it sounds so refreshing and I can’t wait to give the virgin one a try
A cucumber cocktail? wow…I want to try too. So refreshing!
I’ve yet to try cucumber in a drink but it sure does look refreshing!
Cucumber is good for the skin…not to mention they are really really refreshing. I am sure I will love this drink. Ready to try this out =)
Good for the skin? Well, I guess I need to drink more of them! 🙂
Yum! This does sound so good and refreshing!
I have never ever had a cucumber drink but I so want this one right now! It looks wonderful.
I love this MJ. What a totally refreshing summer cocktail. My hubby is quite the bartender so I’ve got to show this to him!
Woohoo!! Way to start the weekend! What a beautiful drink. I love the infusion of cucumber. Well done my friend! Have a great weekend. 🙂
This looks delicious! I bet it would be really good with cucumber vodka :).