Strawberry-Cucumber Gin-Elderflower Spritz

It's pink, summery, and easy to sip.

Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
15 mins
Servings:
6

This pretty-in-pink drink is like a Pimm's cup with a French accent. It’s a long strawberry gin drink that tastes like summer: refreshing and nuanced, but also fun. It starts with muddling strawberries and cucumbers, then gin and elderflower liqueur St. Germain are added to the pitcher. When it’s time to serve, pour the vibrant pink liquid over glasses filled with ice. Top with club soda and a dash of bitters in each glass. Then garnish with more whole strawberries and cucumber rounds, and you’re ready to cheers!

strawberry cucumber gin elderflower spritz
William Abranowicz

Key Ingredients


Gin: Use your favorite gin for this summery spritz. If you’re buying gin to make this recipe we recommend Citadelle, a French gin with robust flavor.  


Elderflower liqueur: Used here, the best known and most widely available elderflower liqueur, St. Germain, is made in France and has a unique sweet floral flavor. 


Bitters: You only need a drop but please don’t skip adding that drop of Peychaud’s bitters to each glass of this strawberry-gin drink. Peychaud’s is the original aromatic bitters and adds both flavor and aroma to the glass.

What Is Muddling? (And Why Do We Do It)

Muddling is a mixology technique that gently bruises solid ingredients such as fruit and herbs with sugar. It is used for popular cocktails like mojitos and caipirinhas. Muddling helps the ingredients to release their flavor into the drink. The emphasis is on light bruising, the aim is not to pulverize the ingredients. Muddling is generally done using a wood tool called a muddler, but if you don't have a muddler, just use the handle of a wooden spoon to gently press and twist.

Ingredients

  • 12 strawberries, hulled and sliced (1 ¼ cups), plus whole berries for serving

  • 12 thin cucumber slices, halved (¾ cup), plus whole rounds for serving

  • 2 tablespoons superfine sugar

  • 3 ounces fresh lemon juice

  • 9 ounces gin, chilled

  • 6 ounces St-Germain, chilled

  • Club soda, chilled; and Peychaud's bitters, for serving

Directions

  1. Muddle strawberries and cucumber:

    Muddle sliced strawberries, halved cucumber slices, sugar, and lemon juice in the bottom of a pitcher until fruits break down and release most of their juices and sugar has dissolved.

  2. Add alcohol:

    Stir in gin and St-Germain to combine.

  3. Divide between glasses:

    Fill 6 glasses halfway with ice. Divide fruit-and-gin mixture evenly among glasses.

  4. Top with club soda and bitters and garnish:

    Top each with 1 to 2 ounces club soda; stir once. Top each with a few dashes of bitters, whole strawberries, and cucumber rounds; serve immediately.

Make Ahead

This cocktail is well suited for entertaining because you can make it ahead:

  • Make the drink through step two. Refrigerate the pitcher for up to eight hours.
  • Assemble the drinks, adding club soda and bitters right before serving.

You can also slice the fruit for garnishing a little ahead of time, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

5 More Summery Cocktail Recipes to Try

Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, June 2019
Updated by
Victoria Spencer
Victoria Spencer, senior food editor, MarthaStewart.com
Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.

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