Cucumber Lime Spritzer

I am going to have to come up with a cooler name for this refreshing cocktail

. . . but for now it works. We are celebrating the warmer weather and sunshine that really means that deck season is really here. Today, a dear friend came over to start our new tradition of "afternoon cocktails". This first version was very special as it was reminiscent of a drink we both sampled last year at Local Kitchen and Bar. I even did a review Too Many Cukes which really inspired our whole foray into cucumber cocktails. You know it's serious when I planted cucumbers in a pot on the deck for the sole purpose of making these cocktails (at a later date, as it's just a little sprout right now).

We stayed true to some of the basic elements of the original drink, including (of course) muddled cucumbers and Hendrick's Gin (which in writing this blog today I discovered their quirky site and highly recommend a visit) which is infused with cucumbers and rose petals and distilled in Scotland. This was the first purchase in anticipation of stocking our home for the deck parties, not only because of the liquid contents involved, but for the glass container that reminds me of an old vintage apothecary bottle, complete with a little cork stopper. I am not a huge gin fan but this version is quite different, even down to the smell when you uncork the bottle. There isn't the traditional Christmas tree fragrance but something a lot more refreshing and light.

To our version we added some lime to make it a little more refreshing and because I didn't have any tonic water on hand, nor simple syrup, we used some Sprite which we have in abundance due to a recent Costco run this weekend.  I guess to summarize we made it an easy recipe so we can make it often.

Cucumber Lime Spritzer

Per drink:
3 oz Hendrick's Gin
6 oz Sprite
Cucumber
Lime

Muddle about 3 cucumber slices in the bottom of a tall glas.

In a shaker add crushed ice, and pour in gin and sprite, along with the juice of half a lime, and give a quick shake.  Pour over muddle cucumber.

Garnish with more sliced cucumber and a wedge of lime.