Cucumber Martini

Freshly muddled cucumber, vermouth and vodka create a refreshing botanical cucumber martini. Hints of lime add contrast and complexity to this summertime sipper.

Jump to:

• 🍸Why We Love This Recipe
• 🥒 Ingredients
• 📋 Ingredient Notes
• 🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
• 💭 Expert Tips and FAQs
• 🍽 Related Recipes
• 📖 Recipe

🍸Why We Love This Recipe

• Not overpowering: We've always found martinis to be a bit overpowering and one-note. This recipe is neither, with cucumber, lime, and vermouth cutting through the intense vodka flavor.
• Floral and refreshing: Vermouth adds a nice botanical touch, while muddled cucumber lends this cocktail a refreshing twist.
• Perfect for summer: this cucumber martini is a cooling summer cocktail. For best results, be sure to chill everything before serving!

🥒 Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this cucumber martini:

📋 Ingredient Notes

• Vodka: Here's a little secret: all vodka is basically the same. No, really. So don't feel the need to pay up for a premium brand. That Kirkland stuff will be just fine, especially for a mixed drink like this cucumber martini.
• Sweet vs. dry vermouth: Dry vermouth is more bitter and less sugary than sweet vermouth. We opted for dry vermouth in this cucumber martini, and added a bit of simple syrup for balance.
• Cucumber: Any cucumber will work, but the absolute best variety to use in this cucumber martini is an English cucumber. They're also known as "hot house" or "seedless cucumbers", which is a bit of a misnomer given they do contain seeds. Their seeds, however, are much smaller than regular cucumbers, which makes for a smoother purée. They also have little to no bitterness.

🔪 Step-by-step Instructions

(1) Add chopped cucumber to a blender with simple syrup and lime juice and blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a sieve to remove any cucumber pieces.

(2) Fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add blended cucumber mixture, vodka and vermouth.

(3) Close and shake well for 10-15 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. For a completely smooth cocktail, you might need to strain again a second time. Serve garnished with a sprig of mint or basil and a thin cucumber slice.

💭 Expert Tips and FAQs

• Cucumber: English / hot house / seedless cucumbers are the best variety to use in this cucumber martini, although any variety will blend just fine and taste great.
• Strain (maybe twice): There's a chance some seeds and cucumber solids may escape the blending process, so be sure to strain the cucumber martini mixture when you pour it into the glass. You may have to strain twice to ensure a smooth cocktail free of cucumber pulp.
• Fun garnish: for a picture perfect garnish (totally optional), use a vegetable peeler to make super thin strips of cucumber. You can either adhere the strip to the inside of the cocktail glass, or fold it up and place on a cocktail skewer to garnish the glass.

🍽 Related Recipes

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📖 Recipe