A refreshing Cucumber Cooler cocktail brings a crisp, garden-fresh taste that works great for warm afternoons or evening gatherings.
This simple drink combines fresh cucumber, lime juice, gin, and club soda to create a light and bright cocktail perfect for any season.
The mix of botanical gin with cool cucumber makes this drink stand out from basic mixed drinks. People love how the natural sweetness of cucumber balances with the citrus and bubbles.
An easy recipe that takes less than 5 minutes to make, this cocktail has become a favorite at parties and backyard events.
The pale green color looks beautiful in a tall glass garnished with thin cucumber ribbons.
Cucumber Cooler Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Muddler
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Highball glass
- Jigger or measuring tool
- Knife and cutting board
- Ice cube tray
- Citrus juicer
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 4-5 thin cucumber slices
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz simple syrup
- Club soda
- Ice cubes
- Garnish: Cucumber ribbon and lime wheel
Instructions
- Slice a cucumber into thin rounds. Place 4-5 slices in the shaker.
- Add 0.5 oz simple syrup to the cucumber slices. Muddle gently to release the cucumber juice.
- Pour in 2 oz gin and 1 oz fresh lime juice.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake for 10-15 seconds.
- Fill a highball glass with fresh ice.
- Double strain the mixture into the glass.
- Top with club soda (about 2-3 oz).
- Garnish with a cucumber ribbon and lime wheel.
Notes
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Tasting Notes
The Cucumber Cooler brings a light and refreshing taste that captures the essence of garden-fresh cucumbers.
Each sip starts with a crisp, clean cucumber flavor that mingles with bright citrus notes from fresh lime juice.
The gin adds subtle juniper and botanical notes that blend well with the natural sweetness of the simple syrup.
The club soda creates tiny bubbles that dance on the tongue, making this cocktail extra refreshing.
Key Flavor Notes:
- Fresh cucumber
- Bright lime
- Sweet botanical gin
- Light effervescence
The drink’s texture is smooth yet bubbly, with a clean finish that doesn’t feel heavy or syrupy.
When properly chilled, it tastes like a cool garden breeze in liquid form.
At 8% alcohol by volume, the alcohol taste stays mild and balanced. The cucumber masks most of the gin’s bite, creating a gentle and easy-drinking cocktail perfect for warm days.
The garnish of cucumber ribbons and lime wheels adds extra aroma with each sip. These fresh garnishes make the drink smell as good as it tastes.
Substitute
No cucumber? No problem. Lime juice works well as a fresh alternative. Use 1 ounce of lime juice for every 2 ounces of cucumber juice in the recipe.
Club soda can replace ginger beer in a pinch. The drink will be lighter and less spicy, but still refreshing. Add a small piece of ginger to keep some of that zingy taste.
Non-alcoholic options:
- Skip the gin and double the ginger beer
- Use alcohol-free gin
- Replace gin with coconut water
Fresh mint leaves make a good stand-in for basil. Use the same amount as called for in the original recipe.
For a different take, try these spirit substitutions:
- Vodka
- White rum
- Tequila blanco
For a sweeter taste, simple syrup or agave nectar can replace honey. Use equal amounts for the swap.
