14 Crisp and Clean Cucumber Cocktails

The Coolest Drinks You'll Enjoy All Year

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/6/21
Enjoy the clean, crisp taste of a cucumber cocktail.

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There's something delightful about cucumber cocktails. They're clean, crisp, and refreshing and especially well-suited for spring and summer parties. The great news is that the unassuming cucumber is getting a ton of attention in the modern bar. The fresh fruit appears in a variety of drink recipes, and cucumber-infused liquors are available that will dazzle your tastebuds. It's an exciting time for cucumber fans who enjoy a great drink.

  • 01 of 14

    Cucumber Martini

    Cucumber martinis

    The Spruce Eats

    Adding the fresh taste of cucumber to the basic vodka martini is a fabulous place to begin the journey. The cucumber martini recipe is, quite simply, shaken vodka and dry vermouth with muddled cucumber. Use gin if you like, or enhance the flavor with homemade cucumber vodka. It's refreshing no matter how you take it.

  • 02 of 14

    Cucumber Collins

    Cucumber Collins Cocktail

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    The garnish for the cucumber collins is as fun to make as the drink. Ribbons of thinly sliced cucumber are wrapped within the ice and continue to infuse flavor into the drink as you sip. It's a sparkling gin mixed drink accented with fresh cucumber, lime, and mint, though vodka is an excellent base as well.

  • 03 of 14

    Cucumber Wasabi Martini

    Cucumber Wasabi Martini
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    You'll find that adding a little spice to the cucumber martini is a terrific way to boost the flavor. The coolness of the cucumber is a perfect match for the heat of wasabi. In the cucumber wasabi martini, the duo is paired with gin, then accented with a hint of sweet and sour. It's an intriguing spicy drink that should not be overlooked.

  • 04 of 14

    Melon Cucumber-tini

    Melon Cucumber-tini Cocktail

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    Flavor pairings come with varying degrees of perfection, and few can rival the taste of melon and cucumber. The easiest way to experience this delightful combo is with the melon cucumber-tini. It's a three-ingredient cocktail of fresh cucumber, simple syrup, and melon vodka that mixes up quickly, so you'll have a refreshing martini in just a few minutes.

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  • 05 of 14

    Watermelon Cucumber Cooler

    Easy and Fresh Watermelon Cucumber Cooler Aviation Gin Cocktail Recipe
    Aviation Gin

    Another way to approach the cucumber-melon combination is to take both fruits straight out of the garden. The watermelon cucumber cooler does just that, with fresh-pressed watermelon juice and slices of cucumber against a floral gin base. Adding soda gives the mix a welcomed effervescence and creates a fantastic summertime beverage.

  • 06 of 14

    Celery Cup No. 1

    Celery Cup No. 1 Cocktail

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    The drink that introduced many people to using cucumber in cocktails is the British favorite known as Pimm's Cup. It's fascinating in its simplicity and can be an inspiration for countless new recipes. Among those is the celery cup, featuring cucumber vodka and Pimm's liqueur. From there, it is all about fresh ingredients, including celery, cilantro, lemon, and, of course, an English cucumber.

  • 07 of 14

    Green Gin Giant

    JKF in NYC's Green Gin Giant Cocktail Recipe

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    Hendrick's Gin is one of the most popular cucumber-flavored distilled spirits. This modern gin breaks all the rules and is noted for having a cucumber-forward profile rather than the piney juniper that gin is known for. It's the star ingredient in fascinating new gin cocktails like the green gin giant. The recipe pairs the gin with elderflower liqueur then piles on the fresh, green ingredients—mint, basil, and cucumber—to create a garden in a glass.

  • 08 of 14

    Citron Sipper

    New Amsterdam Vodka Citron Sipper Cocktail
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    When your garden is filled with cucumbers, turn to this simple recipe. The citron sipper is a refreshing vodka highball that's perfect for a casual afternoon. It uses a budget-friendly citrus vodka, a few slices of cucumber, and a pinch of cilantro. Mix in a dollop of simple syrup and top it off with a light soda, and it's ready to enjoy.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.
  • 09 of 14

    Cucumber Mint Margarita

    Frozen Cucumber Mint Margarita with Tabasco Sauce
    Tabasco

    Break out the blender and enjoy the fascinating taste of a spicy cucumber mint margarita. Fresh cucumber, key lime juice, and mint are blended with your favorite tequila and orange liqueur. The kick comes when you start adding Tabasco, and yes, it is just as fun as it sounds!

  • 10 of 14

    Rocky Cucumber

    Rocky Cucumber Cocktail

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    If you prefer to pour a shot of vodka, the rocky cucumber is the cocktail for you. It retains that cool cucumber and hot sauce contrast but goes about it a different way. The recipe begins with a muddle of cucumber, hot sauce, lime juice, simple syrup, and vodka. Shake it up, top it with a refreshing soda, and enjoy the explosion of flavor.

  • 11 of 14

    Pot of Gold

    Pot of Gold Vodka and Elderflower Martini

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    The soft, floral flavor of elderflower is a lovely companion for fresh mint and cucumber. The trio has a vodka backdrop in the pot of gold recipe, creating the foundation for a wonderful spring cocktail. A small amount of ginger beer, with its sweet-spicy fizz, adds an intriguing dimension that sets it over the top.

  • 12 of 14

    Sparkling Shamrock

    Sparkling Shamrock Cocktail

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    There's no need to wait for St. Patrick's Day to mix up a sparkling shamrock. The refreshing vodka lemonade cocktail is great any day of the year. It also plays up the elderflower, mint, and cucumber combo, but in this case, pear vodka is used. It's easy to mix up and perfect for a lazy afternoon.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.
  • 13 of 14

    El Pepino

    Milagro Tequila's El Pepino Cocktail
    Rob Palmer / Photolibrary / Getty Images

    A sultry drink, el pepino (Spanish for cucumber) is a fascinating taste experience that takes the margarita to a new level. While it does have the typical margarita base, the recipe adds cilantro, cucumber, and egg white. The result is a green, garden-fresh cocktail with a foamy top that is​ an absolute joy to drink.

  • 14 of 14

    Sage Lady

    Absolut Mango Vodka Sage Lady Cocktail Recipe

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    Cucumber, sage, and mango are an unlikely combination, but it works surprisingly well. The sage lady recipe starts off with a muddle of fresh sage and cucumber in syrup. That is shaken with mango vodka and orange liqueur, while peach bitters finish it off nicely.