Summer Cocktail Series: The Cucumber Tonic

Cheers to summer! I've got a refreshing cocktail for you, so it can be "happy hour" any time of day. So long as the weather is hot and you've got a thirst.

There is something interesting about cucmber juice. It is very striking in flavor. One taste and you know exactly what it is you're tasting. However, the words to describe it are more difficult. It tastes "clean." it tastes "fresh." It tastes "cool."
One thing for sure, it's a fairly noticable flavor profile. But, it is great in a clean cocktail, as long as you restrain yourself. Too much cucumber and the cocktail will have... well, too much.

For this drink, my spirit of choice is Hendrick's Gin. Frankly, it's an incredible gin, and I prefer it whenever I can afford it. But, this cocktail is worth the splurge. Unfortunately, because the flavors are clean in this cocktail, using a poor quality spirit will really come through.

Now, the best way to get a lot of juice out of a cucumber is to muddle it in the bottom of a boston shaker. With this method you just need to muddle a couple of slices per drink. If you don't have a muddler, you can try to squeeze it through a citrus juicer, just make sure you strain it before putting it into the cocktail.
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Cucumber Tonic
makes: 1 cocktail

Ingredients:
2 slices cucumber
Juice of 1 lime wedge
2 oz Hendrick's Gin
2 oz Tonic Water
cucumber slice, to garnish

Method:
1.)  In the glass portion of a boston shaker add the cucumber and the lime wedge. Using a muddler, muddle the cucumber.
2.) Add ice and gin. Stir quickly to chill. Strain into a highball glass with ice. Top with tonic water and garnish with a cucumber slice.