This breezy cucumber martini recipe has a crisp, clean flavor. It’s an aromatic cocktail of muddled cucumber, ginger agave syrup, basil, lime, gin, and vermouth. Not only is it delicious, but this cucumber martini comes with a story — in fact, it’s inspired by one!
Love martinis? Try my pomegranate martini, too.
Table of contents
This cucumber martini recipe makes an appearance in the witty, laugh-out-loud novel Smothered by Autumn Chiklis, where the character Shelly ‘Mama Shell’ Hansen regularly orders her signature cocktail, the ‘Shell-tini.’ The light, refreshing cocktail perfectly matches Mama Shell’s over-the-top personality and serves as a playful nod to Chiklis’ real-life inspiration, her mother, Michelle, who previously shared her spritzer bar tips on the blog.
Smothered, which became an LA Times Bestseller, is a comedic, text-message-filled story about Eloise “Lou” Hansen, a recent college grad who moves back home after graduation, only to find herself hilariously “smothered” by her mother’s affection. With its colorful characters, quick humor, and touch of heart, the book pairs perfectly with this crisp, cooling cucumber martini!
Ingredients and Notes
Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete ingredients and instructions!
- Fresh Cucumbers – Use a Persian cucumber or a small piece of English cucumber for the freshest, cleanest flavor. Peel and seed your cucumbers before muddling to avoid bitterness and ensure a smooth texture. Save a few extra slices of cucumber to garnish your martini glasses.
- Fresh Basil – This adds a bright, herbal note that complements the cucumber beautifully. Gently tear the leaves before muddling to release their aroma without making them bitter.
- Alcohol – Gin creates the signature martini flavor, pairing perfectly with cucumber and basil. Then, I include dry vermouth to balance the flavor, adding more herbal notes and depth. For a slightly smoother flavor, you can also use vodka in place of gin, if preferred.
- Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice adds just the right amount of acidity and brightness to balance the sweetness of the syrup.
- Ginger Agave Simple Syrup – The secret ingredient that ties it all together! It adds a touch of natural sweetness with a hint of warmth from the ginger. You can make a batch ahead of time and use it for other cocktails or even tea. Or, look for ginger agave online or at your local grocery store.
Tori’s Top Tips
- Chill your glass. Chill your glass in the fridge or freezer before pouring for the most refreshing sip.
- Don’t over-muddle the cucumber and basil. Smash them just enough to release flavor without making the drink cloudy, which may also cause it to taste bitter.
Cucumber Martini
Ingredients
- 1 Persian cucumber, or a 4-inch long piece of English cucumber
- 2 fresh basil leaves
- 1 1/2 ounces gin
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/2 ounce ginger agave simple syrup, recipe linked below
- 6 ice cubes (2.4 ounces of ice)
- Thin cucumber slices and/or fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Make ginger agave simple syrup ahead, cool completely before using in cocktail.
- Peel and seed the cucumber, then cut into chunks.
- Add cucumber chunks to cocktail shaker. Tear up the basil leaves and add them to the shaker.
- Muddle the cucumber and basil gently to release their flavors.
- Add gin, vermouth, fresh lime juice and ginger agave simple syrup to the shaker along with ice cubes.
- Cover shaker and shake to blend. Strain the drink into a chilled martini glass. Serve.
- Mocktail Variation: Muddle the cucumber and basil together in a cocktail shaker as described above. Add 1 oz. ginger agave syrup, 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice, and 1 1/4 cup sparkling water. Stir the ingredients gently, then put the lid on the shaker. Do not shake, simply strain the drink into a glass. Garnish with cucumber slices and a whole basil leaf. Serve.
NOTES
Nutrition
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FAQs
Yes! Replace the gin and vermouth with sparkling water for a refreshing, alcohol-free cucumber “martini” recipe.
A light, floral gin such as Hendrick’s or Bombay Sapphire pairs beautifully with cucumber and basil notes.
You can prep the syrup and cut your garnishes in advance, but mix and shake just before serving for the freshest flavor.
Ooooh, this was almost too good! So crisp and light and fresh. Let’s just say we really enjoyed this one! I ordered the book too, looks like a cute read.
Could I replace the gin with vodka and can I substitute vermouth with some other ingredient?
Hi Phyllis! You can increase vodka to 2 ounces and omit the vermouth.