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Spring in a glass... My St. Patrick's Lemon Cucumber Martini With Fresh Basil beautifully balances a lemon and cucumber simple syrup with gin and muddled fresh basil leaves, and its pretty pale green hue makes it perfect for St. Patrick's Day and Easter!
St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic.
~~ Adrienne Cook
Yes, I know. It's a sappy quote. 😀 Given that it falls just 3 days prior to the first day of spring, though, it seems sweetly appropriate. What better way to celebrate St. Patty's Day than with a lovely spring green cocktail?
And, this is your lucky day! I've linked up to a number of fabulous recipes from some of my awesome food blogger friends. You're certain to find one - or more - that you simply cannot live without. 😀 You'll find them just above the recipe for St. Patrick's Lemon Cucumber Martini with Basil...
The process of creating a cocktail recipe, at least for me, is very similar to creating a new dish. A summery salad of cucumbers with lemon, basil, and olive oil is a favorite that comes to mind. I paired lemon and basil pesto in my Greek Lamb Pizza just last week. It just seemed like it would "work" in a cocktail as well... Gin is my preferred spirit; I love its aromatics. So, aromatic gin, lemon and cucumber simple syrup, dry vermouth, and muddled fresh basil became a beautiful spring cocktail. Or St. Patrick's Day cocktail. Really, though, I'd probably not refuse one any time of year!
The lemon cucumber simple syrup takes about 30 minutes to make, and needs to be completely cool prior to using in the cocktail. However, it makes a cup of syrup, and that's plenty for quite a few St. Patrick's Lemon and Cucumber Martinis. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month. We prefer a dry (not sweet) cocktail, so the martini calls for just 1 shot of syrup for 2 cocktails. If you like it sweet, add a bit more.
Part of our weekend ritual is to have cocktail hour, and that typically involves just a drink and good conversation with the hubs. I would be remiss in not sharing with you a perfect pairing though. This martini is fabulous with my Oysters With Bacon, Blood Orange, and Jalapeño Mignonette! The combination of flavors - and especially the lemon - complement the oysters beautifully. If you want to pull out "all the stops," host a cocktail party, and feature them together. C'est magnifique!
St. Patrick's Day is just a few days away... What do you say? Yes, please! It's party time... Be sure to check out the links below - savory, sweet, and boozy. 😉
16 More Scintillating St. Patrick's Day Recipes:
Guinness Irish Stew Mini Pot Pies from The Road to Honey
Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Orange Butter from What Should I Make For...
Get Charmed By Double Spice Chocolate Cookies from The Sweet Nerd
Shepherd's Pie {with Guinness Lamb & Horseradish Mash} from Girl Heart Food
Sour Apple Tequila Cocktail - The Lucky Shamrock from No Spoon Necessary
Bangers and Mash with Guiness Onion Gravy from The Beach House Kitchen
Irish Spice Bag / Seasons & Suppers
Chocolate Stout No-Churn Ice Cream with Homemade Toffee Crumble / Ciao Chow Bambina
Lucky Charms Churros & Real Pistachio Pudding from The Busy Spatula
Raspberry Chocolate Milk Porter Pudding Shooters from Beer Girl Cooks
Pork Chops with an Irish Whiskey Sauce from Salt & Lavender
Colcannon Irish Mashed Potatoes from Kevin Cooks
Black Lentil Roasted Broccoli Shepherd's Pie from Calizona
Baileys Chocolate Caramel Tarts from Sugarhero
Vegan Mint Chocolate Bark from Salted Plains
Boozy Irish Coffee Milkshake with Bailey's Caramel Drizzle from Meg is Well
Follow all this deliciousness on Instagram with the hashtag #saintpatricksdayfeast2017! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
St. Patrick's Lemon Cucumber Martini with Fresh Basil
Spring in a glass… My St. Patrick’s Lemon Cucumber Martini With Fresh Basil beautifully balances a lemon and cucumber simple syrup with gin and muddled fresh basil leaves, and its pretty pale green hue makes it perfect for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter!
Ingredients
Lemon Cucumber Simple Syrup
- 2 lemons, juice both, zest 1
- water, to equal 1 cup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cucumber, peeled, (see notes)
Cocktail
- 6 ounces gin, see notes
- 1.5 ounces lemon cucumber simple syrup
- 1.5 ounces dry white vermouth
- 8 large leaves sweet basil, well muddled
Instructions
Lemon Cucumber Simple Syrup
- Zest 1 of the 2 lemons, and set aside. Squeeze juice from both into a pyrex (or similar) measuring cup. Add water to equal 1 cup. Add to a small saucepan along with the sugar.
- Bring just to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low. Do not boil!
- Add 12 - 1/2" thick slices to the saucepan. Simmer (not boil) 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Add lemon zest. Cool completely. Strain into a jar, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Cocktail
- Add gin, lemon cucumber simple syrup, vermouth, muddled basil and ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Shake well. Strain into glass. If you have an aversion to flecks of basil, use a fine mesh strainer.
- Enjoy!
Notes
The syrup requires about half of an average regular cucumber. You can use any variety of slicing cucumber. You don't want the bitterness of the skin, so be sure to peel it.
We keep the syrup in the refrigerator for a month, and can enjoy the cocktail again if we have leftovers.
Drizly.com has a great selection of gin. Check it out! You don't even have to leave the house!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Stainless Steel Bartender Tool Kit: 9 Piece Bartending Set with 25.3 and 20.2 Ounce Cocktail Shaker Tins, 2 measuring Jiggers, Hawthorne Strainer, Mixing Spoon, Muddler, Ice Tongs and Corkscrew Tool -
Godinger Dublin Martini Shaker, 17oz
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Unbreakable Martini Glasses Set of 2 - Polycarbonate - Reusable, 10.2 Ounce - Premium Quality - Gold Series
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 322
Disclaimer: I may receive monetary and/or product compensation in the process of developing recipes and bringing them to you. I will never promoted a supplier or product I do not enthusiastically support! This helps to offset the costs of my blog. 🙂
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