Cucumber Ginger Gin Spritz!
After moving to Hacienda Eterna Primavera in Puerto Rico this summer, I decided to grow cucumbers in my little vegetable garden. As the plants flourished and I began to harvest the crisp, green fruits, I wanted to create something special to celebrate my first homegrown bounty. While exploring the grounds of our hacienda, I discovered that the former owner had grown ginger, and it was still growing wild in various areas. This connection to the past inspired me to incorporate ginger into my new cocktail recipe.
Combining the fresh cucumbers with the spicy kick of ginger, I added lime juice for brightness and agave mint syrup for a touch of sweetness. The result was the Cucumber Ginger Gin Spritz, a refreshing drink that captures the essence of Eterna Primavera and pays homage to the hacienda’s history. Now, whenever I serve this cocktail, it reminds me not only of my garden but also of the rich history of my new home. It’s a delightful way to celebrate the season, the land, and the simple pleasure of enjoying a refreshing drink with family and friends
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But it’s not just the history or the homegrown cucumbers that make this drink special. The Cucumber Ginger Gin Spritz is a refreshing, aromatic cocktail with a perfect balance of flavors. The cucumber adds a cooling freshness, while the ginger-infused agave syrup brings a warm, subtle spice. Lime juice offers a zesty brightness, and the mint adds a light herbal note. Topped with soda water, the drink is crisp and effervescent, perfect for a warm day.
As I craft this recipe, I hope to inspire you to create memorable experiences that celebrate the flavors of the season. Join me, The Lion Chef, in honoring the beauty of homegrown ingredients and the joy of entertaining at Hacienda Eterna Primavera. As I develop my upcoming book, NEXT LEVEL ENTERTAINING: FLAVORS & FUN, I look forward to sharing more signature cocktails that elevate your gatherings, building on the foundations laid in my current book, ENTERTAIN WITH FLAVOR - THE MASTER PLAN.
Let’s start with preparing for the drink, making the lemon rosemary simple syrup:
Ingredients for Agave Mint-Ginger Syrup
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/2 cup filtered water
10 fresh mint leaves
1/2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
Instructions for Agave Mint-Ginger Syrup
Combine the agave syrup and water in a small saucepan. Tear the mint leaves to release their oils and add them to the mixture, along with the sliced ginger. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the ginger and mint to infuse their flavors into the syrup. After 5 minutes of simmering, remove the saucepan from the heat, strain out the mint leaves and ginger, and allow the syrup to cool completely.
While traditional simple syrup is typically made with equal parts sugar and water, this ratio was adjusted to account for the naturally sweeter, more concentrated flavor of agave syrup, ensuring the syrup enhances the drink without overpowering it.
Ingredients Cucumber Ginger Gin Spritz
2 oz gin
1 oz agave mint-ginger syrup
4 thin slices of cucumber
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Soda water (to top)
Garnish
Cucumber slice and mint sprig
Glass
Highball glass (13 oz)
Place the cucumber slices in a shaker and gently muddle them to release their fresh, crisp flavor. After muddling, add ice to the shaker, then pour in the gin, agave mint-ginger syrup, and fresh lime juice. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, until the mixture is well chilled. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes and strain the liquid into the glass. Add more ice cubes if needed, ensuring the glass is full. Top with soda water and garnish with a cucumber slice and a mint sprig for a refreshing, vibrant finish.
Enjoy your super crisp and refreshing Cucumber Ginger Gin Spritz, which brings together the beauty of homegrown ingredients and the joy of entertaining at Hacienda Eterna Primavera.
Get Ready for Deliciousness!
Our highly anticipated cookbook is here!
ENTERTAIN WITH FLAVORS - THE MASTER PLAN
