Best Cucumber Martini

A crunchy and fresh take on the classic cocktail, this Cucumber Martini showcases the refreshing scent of this hydrating vegetable.

This drink is as refreshing as it is refined: the Cucumber Martini! It’s a crisp and fresh twist on the classic martini, with cucumber, vodka and floral notes from St. Germain. Take a sip and your palate will be amazed: it’s fresh, dry and floral, with just the right amount of cucumber. It’s great for summer, but it works anytime. When Alex did this for me for the first time, I cried out “Wow!” from the first sip. It’s a unique drink that you have receive taste good.

What’s in a Cucumber Martini?

This cucumber martini is a variation on the vodka martini, which is itself a variation on the classic martini. The Dry Martini is on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails, which means it has an official definition: gin and vermouth. The cucumber version replaces the vodka with gin and adds a few special ingredients that breathe new life into the classic! Here are the ingredients for a cucumber martini:

• vodka
• Dry white vermouth
• Saint Germain
• 2 cucumber slices

How to Make a Cucumber Martini (Basic Steps)

It’s very easy to make a cucumber martini! All you need is a cocktail shaker, pestle (or wooden spoon), and a martini glass. Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe):

1. Place the cucumber slices in the bottom of a shaker and mash! See below for more.
2. Add remaining ingredients and ice. Shake for 15 seconds until cool.
3. Pour into a glass and garnish with cucumber slices.

The right way to confuse

Grinding involves gently crushing herbs or fruits, or in this case vegetables, to release their juice. This is often used when making cocktails like this cucumber martini, as it allows the flavors to blend better than simply tossing the entire ingredient straight into the drink. How to confuse…right:

• Place the cucumber slices on the bottom of a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have one, you can use a large metal mug or bowl.
• Use a wooden cocktail pestle or unfinished wooden spoon, soft Mash the cucumber slices several times to release the juice. Do not crush with great force! The key to confusion is a light touch.

What is Saint Germain?

If you don’t have a St. Germain in your cocktail arsenal, we highly recommend grabbing a bottle for this pickle martini! Of course it would taste even better without him. But with the St. Germain it adds floral and slightly sweet notes that make this drink stand out.

What is that? St Germain is a liqueur made from elderflower, the small white flowers of an elderberry plant. This flavor is warm and floral. Interestingly, St. Germain was invented only recently: 2007! Alex and I always assumed that the beautiful vintage-looking bottle had a centuries-old history. (Here’s the story behind its invention.) It’s safe to say that this newcomer to the cocktail scene is enjoying tremendous popularity.

How do you say St. Germain? First of all, don’t say “Saint.” It is actually pronounced “Sahn-jer-MAHN”. But however you want to say it so you don’t sound too pretentious to your friends, do it!

More with St. Germaine: Try St. Germain & Cranberry Cocktail and Elderflower & Lemon Cocktail.

Learn more about vermouth

What is vermouth? Vermouth is a fortified wine, which means that alcohol has been added to the wine to make it last longer. Other fortified wines you may have heard of are port, sherry or madeira. There are two main types of vermouth: sweet (usually red) and dry (usually white).

This cucumber martini calls for dry vermouth. The taste of dry white vermouth is crisp and clear: on its own it tastes like a very dry white wine. Vermouth is easy to find in liquor stores and grocery stores. Be sure to buy a dry vermouth here! Sweet red vermouth is something else entirely: It’s used in drinks like Manhattan, Negroni, and Americano.

More martini recipes!

Looking for more of this tasty classic cocktail? Here are some other types of martinis:

• Dirty Martini Serve it “dirty” with olive juice and it will round off the sip with a brackish taste.
• Vesper Martini Invented by James Bond, it has become a real classic! Crunchy and herbaceous, it includes Lillet Blanc with gin and vodka.
• Gibson Cocktail The same as a martini… except for the garnish!
• French Martini Perfectly matched with vodka, pineapple juice and raspberry liqueur.
• Mexican Martini Bursting with zesty flavors, featuring lime, tequila and an olive garnish.
• Pomegranate Martini or Watermelon Martini These jewel-toned drinks are tart and light: the perfect fruity twist.
• Espresso Martini Made with coffee, Kahlua and vodka. Perfect for coffee lovers!
• Lemon Drop Martini An ultra-tart martini made with vodka, Cointreau and lemon.

When to serve a cucumber martini

This cucumber martini is sophisticated, with a refreshing, summery twist. It’s great like:

• summer drink
• Happy hour drink
• Drink at dinner
• Late night drinks
• Evening drink between boys or between girls
• Aperitif at aperitif time

Rather classic cocktails

Here are a few more of our classic top cocktails that you might enjoy as well:

• Classic Margarita Here’s our favorite: tequila, lime, and Cointreau. So classic! Or try all of our best margarita recipes.
• Tom Collins This popular gin cocktail is light, tart and sparkling!
• Southside Cocktail A simple and refreshing gin drink made with mint, lemon and lime: think of it like a gin mojito. Or try the Southside Fizz, the bubbly version.
• Classic Mojito Perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
• Amaretto Sour The perfect amaretto sour recipe that will impress everyone! It has just the right balance of amaretto with bourbon and lemon.