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The citron sipper is a simple and refreshing cocktail that is a perfect summer beverage. It pairs the invigorating taste of citrus vodka with the fresh flavors of cucumber and cilantro. Once you add syrup and soda, you're left with a cool cocktail that definitely has a garden-fresh feel.
The recipe comes from New Amsterdam Spirits and was originally designed to feature their Citron Vodka. That flavor has since been discontinued, though the brand does offer a lemon and an orange vodka, both of which are great tasting and budget-friendly vodkas that would be a delight in this recipe.
Ingredients
- 2–3 slices cucumber
- 1 1/2 ounces citrus vodka
- Pinch of cilantro
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 4 ounces lemon-lime soda (or enough to fill)
- Garnish: cucumber slice
- Garnish: cilantro
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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In a cocktail shaker, muddle the cucumber.
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Add the vodka, cilantro, and simple syrup, then fill the shaker with ice.
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Shake well and strain into a chilled collins glass filled with fresh ice.
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Top with soda and garnish with cucumber and cilantro.
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Serve and enjoy!
Tips
- Any citrus vodka can be used in this cocktail. It's the most popular flavored vodka and the majority of vodka brands produce at least one option.
- Quite often, "citrus" vodka refers to a blend of citrus fruits. You can certainly pour a vodka that features a lone fruit, including grapefruit, lemon, lime, or orange.
- Fresh cilantro is best for cocktails. You can reduce the herb's flavor by tearing the leaves then adding them to the muddle. Remember that it's a very flavorful herb, so don't go overboard!
Recipe Variations
- This is a perfect recipe to transform into a big-batch cocktail and serve by the pitcher. Make as much as you like, keeping the vodka to soda ratio somewhere around 1:4. For instance, to fill a 60-ounce pitcher filled with ice, begin with 1 cup of vodka and 4 cups of soda, sweetening it with 1/3 cup of syrup. Use a whole sliced cucumber and add a small sprig of cilantro to the muddle. Stir it up and adjust any ingredient as you see fit.
- Good herbs to use as a substitute for cilantro include basil, mint, and sage. Each is mild in comparison to cilantro, so you can get away with a few leaves for a single cocktail and larger sprigs for a punch.
How Strong Is a Citron Sipper?
The standard strength for flavored vodka is 70 proof, though there are some 80-proof bottles out there. Either way, this is going to be a very mild cocktail, weighing in somewhere around 9 percent ABV (18 proof). That's perfectly normal for highball mixed drinks and it's actually lighter than sipping the average wine.
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