This cooling cucumber basil summer gin cocktail is the perfect combination for a truly refreshing drink. Juicy cucumber quenches your thirst while fresh basil and lime elevate the flavor flirting back and forth with splashes of refreshing Roku gin.
A Vibrant and Refreshing Summer Gin Cocktail with Roku Gin
The first sip I had of this cocktail made my mouth instantly water for more. A few sips later it was going, going, gone! It’s a perfectly vibrant, balanced, and sophisticated cocktail with simple and fresh ingredients and it is mostly inspired by the gimlet cocktail.
What’s a Gimlet cocktail?
Very simply put, a gimlet is a classic cocktail made with gin and lime. Originally, it is thought to be made with simply gin and Rose’s lime cordial. I imagine in some places they may still use the lime cordial since it doubles as both lime (flavor) and sugar (sweetener). It also makes your list of ingredients quite short. Over time both palates and preferences have slowly shaped this classic cocktail into what it pretty much resembles today: gin, fresh-squeezed lime juice, sweetener.
I decided to give it a cooling and refreshing twist by adding fresh basil and cucumber.
A clean and refreshing roku gin cocktail…
To make this fresh cucumber gimlet I’ll use cucumber slices and bruise basil leaves. The lime in particular is fragrant and perfumy. It blends so beautifully with gin. I think if you’re gonna pair a citrus with gin, lime is king. Especially if we’re talking about this delicately flavored and balanced Japanese craft gin…
Roku Gin: A delicious Botanical Craft Gin
This craft gin is made in Japan and is flavored with 6 different botanicals. Roku gin boasts a light, delicate, flowery, and slightly herbaceous flavor.
It is quite possibly one of the easiest gins to blend into your cocktails. If you’re looking for something super clean, light, and fresh, this Roku craft gin (made by Suntory–the famed Japanese whiskey house) is a great place to start.
This cooling and refreshing cucumber basil cocktail is perfect for anyone in search of delicious Roku gin cocktails to serve up for summer…
Slice Fresh Cucumber for the summer gin cocktail
Take a stack of cucumber slices and then quarter them. Toss them into your cocktail shaker. Now toss in a few fresh basil leaves and a splash of fresh squeezed lime juice.
Muddle Cucumber & Basil
Muddle cucumber chunks and basil leaves together until the cucumber is crushed releasing juices and the basil is fragrant.
Add Some Roku Gin To Make A delicious Gin Cucumber Cocktail
Now splash in some gin and a little simple syrup. I used crisp and clean Roku gin but you can use your favorie brand of good quality refreshing gin. Top your shaker with ice and put on the lid.
Shake The Cucumber Gin Cocktail Until Chilled
Shake everything together really well until the ice crushes a bit inside and chills everything thoroughly. It should come out completely combined and ice cold.
Related: Lemon Basil Vodka Martini
Garnish & Serve your cucumber basil summer gin cocktail
Strain your cocktail into a nice martini or coupe glass and garnish with fresh cucumber slices, basil leaves or (super classic) a lime wheel. Serve immediately, nice and chilled.
Whip up this cooling basil cucumber summer gin cocktail whenever you want a slightly more sophisticated summer cooler. The cucumber is so refreshing and the basil just dresses everything up and brings another element of flavor to the drink.
I don’t drink gin often and most occasions usually call for a certain mood when I do. However, this particular cocktail is quickly becoming a big favorite. It’ll be making regular appearances at my table all summer along with this fresh crushed watermelon gin cocktail and this easy mango blueberry gin cocktail!
Cooling Cucumber Basil Summer Gin Cocktail | A Roku Gin Cocktail
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 or 5 Fresh Basil Leaves
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice - fresh squeezed
- 4 Cucumber slices - quartered (I used seedless English cucumber)
- 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
- 2 oz Good Quality Gin - I used Roku Japanese Craft Gin
Instructions
- Cut 4 slices from a fresh cucumber. Cut each slice into quarters. Toss cucumber pieces into the cocktail shaker and add the fresh basil leaves.
- Splash in the fresh squeezed lime juice. Muddle these ingredients together until basil is bruised/crushed, cucumbers are crushed and their juices extracted.
- Splash in simple syrup and gin. Top your shaker with ice and put the cover on. Shake vigorously until everything is completely mixed through and ice is slightly crushed from shaking. Strain into a coupe or matini glass.
- Garnish with cucumber slice, basil leaf, or lime wheel. Serve very cold. Serve immediately.
