This cocktail is a summer favorite of my Dad’s and mine. I fondly remember mixing them up on a family trip to the beach last summer (we may have rented a condo for only a few days, but we basically brought a full bar with us.) I made up the recipe after seeing a bartender mix something similar at the Carousel Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans. His version contained St. Germain, and I’ve included it here as an option, but I honestly love the crisp flavor of gin and cucumber without it. I’m drinking one on my porch as I write, soaking in a summer evening, and I can’t imagine a more perfect cocktail for the moment.
I debated a bit about whether to call this a Cucumber Fizz or a Cucumber Collins. As you may recall, a Tom Collins is a cocktail containing gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. You can similarly make a Whiskey Collins or a Vodka Collins. But a “fizz” by definition is also a cocktail containing citrus juice, sugar, and carbonated water. I still don’t have a satisfactory answer for how a Gin Fizz is any different from a Tom Collins, but I’m going to go ahead and call this a Cucumber Fizz because, well, I like the name.
As far as what gin to use, Hendricks would be the best. A cucumber infusion makes it ideal for any cocktail with cucumber flavors. But it’s a bit pricey for me, and right now I’m really enjoying GrandTen’s Wire Works gin made right here in Boston. Your go-to gin ought to be just fine.
If you want to do a variation with St. Germain, add 1/4 oz. or even 1/2 oz. and decrease the simple syrup to 2 tsp. St. Germain really is lovely with these flavors, but it moves the cocktail from crisp and citrusy to sweet and floral. It just depends what you’re in the mood for.
Cucumber Fizz
1 1/2 oz. gin
1/4 oz. St. Germain (optional)
2 slices cucumber, halved
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
2 oz. club soda
Muddle cucumber, lime juice, and simple syrup in a glass. Add gin, St. Germain (if desired), ice, and club soda. Stir gently and enjoy.