Uh oh. I found another contender for the official drink of summer. This one may look a mess but is really pretty lovely thanks in large part to the wonder that is Hendrick’s gin. And so it seems we have a competition on our hands. I think the only fair thing to do is to have my friend Katie decide. She is the one who usually declares the drink of summer and she has a discerning palate, she is also the person who introduced me to cucumber cocktails with a punch she made many summers ago that was spectacular. Katie and I will be together for the 4th of July which seems like a fitting time for a drink competition. I’ll let you know what happens.
In the meantime lets enjoy the competition. I need you to try both of these and see which you prefer. Or let me know if there is another drink which should be a contender. So far the one thing the two cocktails have in common is some seriously beautiful color and citrus. They are also both light and refreshing. In this drink, cucumber and lime are paired with the complex flavors of Hendrick’s gin to make for a bright and invigorating cocktail. Perfect sipped while sitting on your back porch on a warm summer night. The pinch of salt that tops the drink really rounds out the flavor and is an important addition. Don’t be tempted to leave it out of the recipe.
And let me know what you’ll be drinking this summer!
Gordon’s Cup (adapted from April 2009 Bon Appetit)
- 2 lime wedges
- 2 1/2-inch-thick slices of peeled cucumber
- 1/4 cup Hendrick’s gin
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Simple Syrup
- 1 cup ice
- Pinch of sea salt
Muddle lime and cucumber in a cocktail shaker until lime is juiced and cucumber is pulpy. Add gin and Simple Syrup, then ice. Cover and shake vigorously 4 times. Pour contents of shaker into rocks glass and sprinkle with sea salt. Makes one cocktail.
The other contender: Prosecco and Aperol
The Kitchenette says:
May 20th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
This looks sinfully refreshing. A drink for the beach, I’d say. I’m already imagining white sandy beaches and bright sunlight… how many days until vacation again?
Whitney says:
May 20th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I just posted about a pretty tasty cocktail myself but this looks wonderful. I really do love gin but i don’t find myself drinking it much anymore. I will search out Hendricks and give it a try.
Tim says:
May 20th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Yes, try some Hendrick’s it is really nice. It is infused with cucumber and rose.
saddleshoos says:
May 20th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
We’re kind of Hendrick’s obsessed around Rockridge–and with fresh cucumber this will be hard to beat! So excited to try…
Rebecca H. says:
May 20th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Hey, Tim. I love the Hendrick’s. I may have to give up my current Official Cocktail of Summer ’09 Campari (old recipe style) -soda…
Sarah (Coffee Beans and Curry Leaves) says:
May 20th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
This looks so refreshing! I love any cocktail with gin and I this is now at the top of my “to try” list.
Phoo-D says:
May 21st, 2009 at 8:00 am
In my mind Hendrick’s and cucumber belong together. I usually enjoy a Gin and Tonic with lime but if we have Hendrick’s it is a G&T with cucumber slices and no lime. However I’ve never tried one with both so we’ll give this a go! Looks great.
fresh365 says:
May 21st, 2009 at 9:38 am
I’m up for the challenge! Will report back…
The Duo Dishes says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:33 am
Cucumber in the drink? We support that!
laura says:
May 21st, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Oh Hindrick’s, how you’ve spoiled me! I’ll definitely give this one a whirl – is sounds like perfection. If only it would warm up here!
sivan says:
May 21st, 2009 at 9:22 pm
hendrick’s is delish! and i have to agree with phoo-d, cucumber all the way. i like mine with a dash of bitters, as well. my summer cocktail of 2009 has to be the grapefruit gimlet (also featured in bon appetit.) i sweeten mine with agave nectar instead of simple syrup. simple syrup kind of creeps me out… cheers!
Tim says:
May 21st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Will try the grapefruit. I love gimlets. What is so creepy about simple syrup?! (I know, I know…)
Buzz Kaplan says:
May 21st, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Your site is absolutely magical. The photos, the info, and the ambience are just something so unusual. My only criticism is that every time I visit, I CRAVE whatever you’ve conjured up.
I just love this site-it blows me away.
Thanks,
Buzz
Tim says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:58 am
Aw, thanks Buzz, that is so nice to hear!
Tina says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 am
This sounds fabulous!!! I am definitely going to try it, though, perhaps I will seed the cucumber too (just my personal cucumber issues). Can’t wait!
Tim says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
Yeah, I was thinking that some people might not like the seeds, thanks for bringing it up. You could certainly seed the cucumber first. Enjoy!
maeve says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
This is definitely worth a try . . . at first I thought it might be the Hendricks and Honeydew (in F&W’s 2008 Cocktails) I’ve been sipping on lately – equal parts chilled gin and tonic, a few honeydew chunks muddled with thyme, and a few more honeydew balls for garnish.
And, beautiful pictures!
Tim says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Maeve: That sounds really good! Will try. Thanks for the suggestion.
John says:
May 24th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
First you turned me onto strawberry cake, now Gordon’s Cup. Nothing like an 85 degree day to turn one’s mind to thoughts of Gin.
Casey says:
June 4th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I love Gordon’s Cup. My summer drink is Aperol (Rubarb liquer) w/ Soda & a slice of orange or lime. I use it in place of Campari. Really good with a little champagne, too!
Angela says:
June 7th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Tried this tonight and it was a big hit! Everyone here gives you the thumbs up for drink of summer on this one. Some added a splash of bubbly water to lighten it and enjoyed that as well. Good recipe!
Tim says:
June 7th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Glad you liked it, Angela!
Kathleen says:
June 12th, 2009 at 10:57 am
We have been doing Gin and Tonics so far but this sounds like a fabulous addition to that line up. My son will be amazed by Hendricks I’m sure. Now I just need to find some.
Lisa (dinner party) says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
This is one of my favorite drinks of the summer too. Your photos of it are so gorgeous!
laura says:
July 8th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Luckily I’ve already got a bottle of Hendricks at home! What about a splash on ginger ale?
LoveFeast Table says:
July 8th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
We love an official summer drink….we have themed our summers overs the years around it, “Sangria & Sunshine”, “Mojitos, Motherhood, & Madness”, “Limoncello & Life (the year we went to Italy), and on….We’ll have to try it, the summer’s not over yet!! Chris Ann & Kristin
Tim says:
July 8th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Ginger ale might be a good addition, give it a try! Let me know what you think.
Tom in Austin says:
September 6th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Just made one. I like it a lot but I liked it a little better when I added some tonic water. Also at PF Changs they have a similar drink with cucumbers, mint leaves mottled with Lemon grass syrup and I believe either tonic or fresca. I like your better than Changs because it is not as sweet.
Thanks
Joanne says:
May 17th, 2010 at 12:13 am
So weird – just came to Lottie+Doof to post about the warm strawberry streusel cake (mmm), was looking around after and found this recipe. Was out just *last night* and had a cocktail with Hendrick’s, muddled cucumber, and sake – served straight up in a martini glass. Was sooo good and my next job after posting about the above cake (mmm) was to find a recipe for Hendrick’s and cucumber. Will try this – but also recommend substituting a splash of sake for the lime and simple syrup – it was delish.
Tim says:
May 18th, 2010 at 6:19 am
Sake sounds like it would be an excellent addition!
Courtney says:
December 29th, 2011 at 11:39 pm
I didn’t like gin until I tried Hendrick’s. It is so good and this recipe sounds awesome.