Cucumber Collins

Beat the summer heat with this refreshing, and very drinkable riff on a Tom Collins cocktail.

In 1862, Jerry Thomas, considered the father of American mixology published The Bar-Tender’s Guide, an authentic bible of good drinking. It was the first drink book ever published in the United States. The reissue of 1876 contains the first official recipe of the Tom Collins.

Combining Seedlip Garden 108 with its herbaceous notes pairs beautifully with mint and cucumber.

Ingredients:
30ml Mint Simple Syrup (one mint sprig for garnish)
30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice.
45ml Seedlip Garden 108
1 small lebanese cucumber, peeled and diced,
Soda or Sparkling Water

Tools
Cocktail shaker
Jigger to measure
Ice
Muddler
Tall Glass

1. Make your simple syrup. To a small pan, add 120ml water, 120ml caster sugar, 1 cup roughly chopped mint, and over low to medium heat dissolve the sugar. Turn off heat and let it cool completely. Once cooled, strain into another container. (You can always let the mint steep in the mixture longer.)

2. Add your cucumber to the cocktail shaker and muddle to release the juices and aroma.

3. Add your cooled simple syrup, lemon juice and gin alernative to the shaker along with some ice and shake.

4. Strain over fresh ice into a collins glass, then top with Soda Water or Sparkling Water

5. Garnish with a mint sprig and enjoy.