Cucumber and mint is like the spa day of flavor combinations, so cool and refreshing. It’s also the perfect flavor profile for spring: light, bright, and vegetal. Here, we layer cucumber slices and mint leaves with cucumber-mint vodka to create a cocktail that’s greener than newly sprouted grass — and soothes and sozzles all in one sip.

To make it, we muddle up all that fresh greenery, and then shake it up with a couple jiggers of the cucumber-mint vodka (we told you it’d get you tipsy), a splash of tart lime juice — and a wee bit of simple syrup, for a hint of sweetness. An ounce or two of ginger beer on top gives it a spicy finish and the ideal amount of fizz.

This is not a fluffy cocktail: it’s boozy and complex. But it does have a fun, convivial vibe, and it looks positively charming in a dainty coupe glass. We’d shake one up for a celebration (it’d be an effortlessly cool signature birthday cocktail), garden happy hour with the Covid bubble — or any occasion that calls for a touch of easygoing, bright green whimsy.

Servings: 1

Ingredients

6 cucumber slices, ¼” thick, divided

8 Gelson’s organic fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish

2 oz cucumber-mint vodka

½ oz freshly squeezed lime juice

¼ oz simple syrup

2 oz ginger beer

Ice

Directions

1. Chill 1 coupe glass for at least 30 minutes.

2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle 4 cucumber slices and the fresh mint.

3. Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Add the cucumber-mint vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup.

4. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.

5. Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled glass.

6. Top off with ginger beer, and garnish with 2 cucumber slices and additional fresh mint leaves.

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