Garden Gimlets: gin gimlet w/fresh cucumber, lime, & basil

Feel like spring in a glass? plus gin. Because. Well.  Gin. Whip up a batch of Garden Gimlets: gin gimlet w/fresh cucumber, lime, & basil.

When spring arrives each week at the farmers market (or in your garden, if you are so lucky) brings new revelations. Berries, basil, cucumbers of all varieties. The first week of strawberries brings out the crowds. I’m waiting for raspberries.

Amongst all the shoppers laden with flats of hood strawberries was a man who was really passionate about cucumbers. He had strong opinions about most of the produce but it was the cucumbers the brought out the wide gestures and protective cuddling. This man explained varieties and flavors, and why this particular variety was best.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a grown man in a button down shirt and well pressed khaki pants protectively cuddle cucumbers before- but I have and it made me want those cucumbers, his cucumbers. The rest of the pile just didn’t seem as green as what he had already selected. Though, ultimately, I am satisfied with my own un-cuddled cucumbers, it also made me want a drink. 

The farmers market in spring is like that. Part joy, part envy, part irritation. 

Thank goodness for gin.

Notes and suggestions for Garden Gimlets: gin gimlet w/fresh cucumber, lime, & basil

• If you make this batch and don’t have anyone to share with, like I didn’t at ten o’clock in the morning when I shot these photos, you can strain the extra into a sealable freezer safe jar and save the rest for later.
• If you do save the rest you can serve it up as is, it will be a little on the slushy side if its been in the freezer for more than an hour or two, or use this garden gimlet sluhy as a base for a spritzer
• Feel free to substitute your favorite herb for the basil- cilantro or mint would be nice 
• I used 7 ounces of dry english style gin and one ounce of old tom gin- I’d be curious to try it again with more of the old tom

Garden Gimlet: gin gimlet w/fresh cucumber, lime, & basil

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 8 ounces gin
• 2 limes cut into quarters
• 1 cup cucumber cut into one inch pieces
• 4-6 leaves fresh basil roughly chopped
• 2 ounces simple syrup
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 2-3 drops celery bitters optional

Instructions

 

• combine limes, cucumber, and basil leaves in a quart size mason jar and muddle  throughly
• add gin, simple syrup, and ice
• put the lid on the jar and shake shake shake 
• strain and serve up or over one cube, add a drop or two of bitters if desired and garnish with fresh lime and a slice of cucumber.

Notes

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More of my favorite gin cocktails

This winter herb gin gimlet with fresh rosemary

The always classic strawberry smash cocktail with gin and basil