We took one of our favourite summer refreshers and elevated it! Although the Cucumber Collins is still a fantastic and easy Summer sipper, we felt that it had room for a bit more complexity and a pop of colour.
To achieve a bolder cucumber flavor and a beautiful verdant green; cucumber is juiced instead of being muddled before being added to the mix. Putting the cucumbers (I like either an English Cucumber or something fresh from the garden) through a centrifugal juicer adds a silkiness to the juice from all the aeration it causes.
The Dry Hopped Gin adds complexity to the cocktail with its bright citrus notes and herbal complexity but we add even more complexity with the addition of a basil simple syrup. Muddling herbs into a cocktail can add off notes and small bits of the herbs can end up in the final drink. Making a simple syrup with basil helps combat this and achieve a more consistent cocktail. Adding a few drops of saline solution (Salt Water) makes the cocktail flavours more bold, the citrus brighter, and the drink more satisfying.
The end result is a delicious, complex yet refreshing Summer Sipper. Citrusy, herbal, and crisp there isn’t much better than this on a hot summer day. If you’re looking to impress on your next pool party, a tea party, or a casual get-together this is the perfect drink.
Ingredients
2oz – Dry Hopped Gin
0.75oz – Basil Simple Syrup
1oz – Fresh Lemon Juice
2oz – Fresh Juiced Cucumber Juice
2oz – Club Soda
3 Drops – Saline Solution
Instructions
- Juice some cucumbers and prepare a basil simple syrup.
- Add ice to a chilled Collins glass.
- Add the gin, lemon juice, basil simple syrup, cucumber juice, and saline solution to the Collins glass.
- Stir to combine and chill.
- add the Club Soda as desired.
- Optionally garnish with a sprig of basil and a lemon wheel.
- Enjoy!
Check our original Cucumber Collins for an easy Summer Sipper!
