Cucumbers have become an increasingly popular cocktail add-in, with people using them to garnish, enjoying a cucumber vodka drink, or muddling them with herbs and sugar. If you can't get enough of this light and tasty ingredient, take a look at these eleven refreshing cocktail recipes that bring its flavors to the forefront.
Cucumber Vodka Rickey
A spin on the classic gin rickey, this cucumber vodka rickey is light and refreshing, and incredibly easy to make.
Ingredients
- 3 lime wedges
- 2 ounces cucumber vodka
- 5 ounces club soda
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
- Lime wedge for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a collins glass or similar, squeeze the lime wedges and then put the wedges into the glass.
- Add the cucumber vodka, soda water, and ice.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint and an optional lime wedge.
Cucumber Melon Ball
Interestingly, cucumbers are considered a type of melon, meaning that this cucumber melon ball keeps it all in the family. It's one of the tastiest Midori cocktails of them all, and that's saying a lot.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Midori
- 2 ounces cucumber vodka
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Melon balls for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the Midori, cucumber vodka, and simple syrup.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Garnish with melon balls on a skewer.
Cucumber Mojito
While each are refreshing on their own, together, cucumber and mint make for a delicious variation on the classic mojito.
Ingredients
- 8 mint leaves
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces cucumber vodka
- Ice
- 2 ounces soda water
- Unpeeled cucumber, cut into long thin slices using a vegetable peeler for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the simple syrup.
- Add the lime juice and cucumber flavored vodka.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Add the soda water and cucumber slices.
Cucumber Cooler
The cucumber cooler uses Champagne or a similar dry white sparkling wine, such as Prosecco or Spanish Cava to create its delectable flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 long, thin strip of unpeeled cucumber (use a vegetable peeler)
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce cucumber vodka
- 2 to 3 ounces chilled sparkling white wine
- Ice
Instructions
- Line the inside of an old fashioned glass with the unpeeled cucumber strip.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, simple syrup, cucumber vodka, and sparkling white wine.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
Cucumber Highball
A lighter version of the whiskey highball, this cucumber highball combines cucumber vodka with lemon-lime soda for a quick and easy cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cucumber vodka
- Ice
- Lemon-lime soda
- Cucumber slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass or similar filled with ice, pour the vodka.
- Top with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish with a cucumber slice.
Boozy Cucumber Lemonade
Whip up a pitcher of this boozy cucumber lemonade, and you'll be ready for whatever kind of crowd shows up to your brunch party.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces cucumber vodka
- Ice
- Lemonade
- Lemon wheel for garnish
- Unpeeled cucumber, cut into thin slices for garnish
- Sage leaf for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a tall glass, combine the simple syrup and cucumber vodka.
- Add ice and top with lemonade.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel, optional sage leaf, and cucumber slice.
Border Garden Cocktail
This south-of-the-border inspired cocktail mixes vodka with tequila and adds a hint of cucumber and cilantro on top.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cucumber vodka
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- Cilantro sprig for garnish
- Cucumber slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a chilled rocks glass or similar, combine the cucumber vodka and tequila.
- Using a cocktail spoon, mix the two together.
- Garnish with a cilantro sprig and a few cucumber slices.
Spring Fling Cocktail
This spring fling cocktail has a more complex flavor profile than some cucumber vodka cocktails, but you can truss up even the easiest of drinks with a few impressive garnishes.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce apricot brandy
- 2 ounces cucumber vodka
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
- Apricot, sliced long for garnish (optional)
- ½ lime for garnish (optional)
- Unpeeled cucumber, sliced thin for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, simple syrup, apricot brandy, and cucumber vodka.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a mint sprig, as well as the optional apricot slices, cucumber slices, and lime.
Cucumber Cape Codder
Half of the reason that Cape Codders are so beloved is because anyone can make one in a minute or two flat, and this cucumber Cape Codder is just as easy.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cucumber vodka
- Ice
- Cranberry juice
- Mint sprig for garnish
- Cucumber slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass filled with ice, pour the cucumber vodka.
- Top with cranberry juice.
- Using a cocktail spoon, stir the mixture together.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and cucumber slice.
Pickle Juice and Vodka Shot
This recipe uses leftover pickle juice to create two 1½ ounce shots.
Ingredients
- Garlic salt or celery salt
- 1½ ounces dill pickle juice
- 1½ ounces cucumber vodka
- Ice
- Lime for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Wet the rim of two 1½ ounce shot glasses and dip them in the celery or garlic salt.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the dill pickle juice and cucumber vodka.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared shot glasses.
- Garnish with lime if desired.
Cucumber Shot
If you're really looking to impress a crowd, take the time to make these cucumber shots using homemade cucumber shot glasses.
Ingredients
- 1 organic cucumber
- Dash of salt
- 1½ ounces of cucumber vodka
Instructions
- Using a vegetable peeler, fully peel the cucumber.
- Cut about 3-inch pieces from either end, discarding the middle section.
- Trim the rounded ends so that they'll sit flat, and using a melon baller scoop out the cucumber's meat until you have what looks like a shot glass.
- Sprinkle a dash of salt around the edge of the cucumber's rim.
- Pour in the cucumber vodka.
Ways to Garnish Cucumber Vodka Cocktails
Cocktail garnishes not only look pretty, but they can also add minute amounts of flavor to a drink to balance the mixture out perfectly. Take a look at some of the ways you can garnish these cucumber vodka cocktails.
- Small cucumber slices can add a spot of color to a delicious cocktail.
- Using a vegetable peeler, you can create long cucumber slices that spear perfectly onto cocktail flags or stemmed herbs.
- Add salt or sugar to a glass' rim for a bit of heat or sweet to your drink.
- Drop in a few fresh herbs like dill, mint, thyme, or rosemary to enjoy all of the fruits of garden in one cocktail.
- Using a vegetable peeler, you can make cucumber spirals to drop into a drink or leave on the edge.
Great Cucumber Vodka Mixers
To add a touch of color to your cucumber vodka drinks, substitute 1/2 ounce of the cucumber vodka with butterfly pea flower infused vodka, which adds lovely blue, violet, or pink hues depending on the other ingredients in the drink. For a dramatic presentation, pour in the pea flower vodka in front of your guests and watch the drink's color change!
You can use other mixers, as well. Not everyone has the time to collect multiple ingredients and parse out their measurements for a craft cocktail. Therefore, here's a few of the many mixers that go well with cucumber vodka.
- Club soda
- Lemonade/limeade
- Cranberry juice
- Ginger beer
- Melon-flavored seltzer
- Pineapple juice
- Watermelon juice
- Tonic water
Enjoy These Cute-Cumber Vodka Cocktails
Cucumber vodka brings an unusual, but delicious, flavor to any cocktail that it's added to. Whether you're enjoying a cucumber martini or one of the cocktails above, using the cucumber vodka can take your average cocktails to new heights. Now it's time to experiment with other flavored vodka drinks.
