DOTW: Cucumber Sour
We’d planned take a break from Drink of the Week while we’re vacationing down in Southern California with family. (After all, it’s not like we haven’t had plenty to drink lately). But since we already had this recipe planned for our next DOTW installment when Deb at Everyday Food invited us to participate in today’s Cuke & Zuke Fest, how could we resist jumping online to share it with you?
We had our share of interesting Charlotte Voisey cocktails during the Spirited Dinner at Restaurant August, but her Cucumber and Lavender Sour was our table’s favorite drink by far. It requires a little up-front planning (or shopping), but beyond that it’s simply a straight-up gin sour with a few extra dashes of flavor.
Along with the usual gin botanicals like juniper and coriander, Hendrick’s uses cucumber and rose petals as aromatics in their distillation process, so it’s not surprising that adding cucumbers and floral notes in this drink makes for a delicious end result.
Cucumber and Lavender Sour
– Charlotte Voisey
1-1/2 oz Hendrick’s gin
1/4 oz Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
3/4 oz lavender syrup (see below)
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 egg white
2 slices English cucumber (plus 1 for garnish)
2 dashes lavender bitters*
fresh lavender, for garnish
In a mixing glass, muddle 2 cucumber slices with lavender syrup. Add the remaining ingredients, and shake well with ice. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass, and garnish with a cucumber slice and sprig of lavender.
Lavender syrup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2T dried lavender flowers
Heat sugar and water together until just dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add lavender. Let sit until cool. Strain out the lavender and filter, if desired. (Alternately, Sonoma Syrup and Monin make commercial versions; the latter has a purple tint.)
* Charlotte uses lavender bitters created by a London friend. If you don’t feel up to concocting your own, Fee Brothers’ grapefruit bitters are a complementary alternative.
Comment by Paige
I can’t wait to try this–I had something similar at Osteria Mozza earlier this year, and have been yearning to recreate it!
Posted on 07.31.08 at 11:10AM
Comment by Sean
How delightfully and deliciously summery! It reminds me of the kinds of flavor combos they do at Aziza.
Posted on 07.31.08 at 11:25AM
Comment by sandy gluck
Love all the gin talk – my favorite cocktail is a Pegu club – gin, orange bitters, triple sec, simple syrup – wickedly good. love the website
Posted on 07.31.08 at 11:32AM
Comment by Anita
Paige: Mmm, Mozza. I wish we could get up there for lunch. Maybe tomorrow..
Sean: It does have that sort of culinary air about it, doesn’t it?
Sandy: thanks for the compliments! We’re big fans of the Pegu Club, too.
Posted on 07.31.08 at 11:40AM
Comment by Marleigh
I love watching Charlotte make drinks—she has such elegant style while she’s shaking. Very lady-like.
Posted on 07.31.08 at 12:01PM
Comment by Rocky
The one with bacon was good too
Posted on 07.31.08 at 5:56PM
Comment by Anita
Marleigh: That’s true… she’s so very poised!
Rocky: We’ll have to agree to disagree on that one. I started out thinking it was interesting, and by the time I was half-done, I pushed it away.
Posted on 07.31.08 at 6:24PM
Comment by Erinn
This sounds so fantastic, like summer in a glass! I had the best bloodymary with cucumber and sage not to long ago. Quite a bit different then this concoction, but I love cocktails that shake it up a bit! Have fun in So Cal.
Posted on 07.31.08 at 7:13PM
Comment by Tina
Love your blog! Such a cute idea!
Posted on 08.01.08 at 10:08AM
Comment by michelle
I just found your blog, but I love this idea for a drink of the week! We recently moved to Hawaii and have been discussing how we should become drink connoisseurs for all of the guests we’re sure to be having in the future! You take beautiful pictures too!
Posted on 08.01.08 at 12:33PM
Comment by Lisa (Homesick Texan)
I went to a benefit where she was making cocktails with Hendrick’s, and this was one of her amazing concoctions. So refreshing!
Posted on 08.01.08 at 12:40PM
Comment by jenniferL
this looks & sounds delicious!! thanks.
Posted on 08.01.08 at 1:41PM
Comment by Dr. Bamboo
I’ve never been much of a cucumber fan, but I like Hendrick’s and the Canton…so I’m giving this one a shot at some point. Your enticing words and photos sold me!
Posted on 08.01.08 at 2:27PM