Homemade cucumber infused vodka is my newest obsession. Seriously, I’ve been prepping a fresh batch on Sundays for drinks the following weekend on the regular for a month now. It’s crazy easy – remove the skin and roughly chop a large hothouse cucumber and add to a glass jar with 3 cups vodka. Let sit for 5-7 days in your fridge. Done and Done. The result is the most refreshing, drinkable and totally versatile starting point for all of the summery cocktails you can dream up. I’m super annoyed that I haven’t been doing it for years and I hate to admit that in the past I’ve actually shelled out cash for the pre-made stuff. Both brands I tried went promptly down the drain. So bad. This stuff puts the store bought bottles to shame. Plus, you can use your favorite brand of vodka. I use Kettle One and the result is a cucumber vodka martini that my husband dubbed almost “too drinkable.” These babies go down real easy. You’ve been warned.
We’ve been enjoying this vodka two ways – as a sophisticated martini or a chilled out cucumber lime spritzer. Ok, they’re basically the same drink except one is poured over ice and topped with club soda. On Friday nights when I’m hangry and ready to relax after a long work week, I’ll go for the martini version. Saturday afternoons hanging in the backyard with friends are made for spritzers. I’m digging these refreshing and summery concoctions so much that it’s safe to say they’ve replaced my beloved margarita as the drink of summer.
So what are you waiting for?! Get yourself a cucumber and some vodka and let’s do this.
- 1 large hothouse cucumber
- 3 cups vodka
- 5 ounces cucumber vodka
- ¾ ounce lime juice
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar
- 2 thin cucumber slices (optional)
- 5 ounces cucumber vodka
- ¾ ounce lime juice
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar
- 4 ounces club soda
- 2 lime wedges (optional)
- Remove skin from cucumber and roughly chop. Add to a large glass jar with vodka. Refrigerate for 5-7 days, testing for desired level of cucumber flavor every few days. Strain vodka and store in the refrigerator. Yields roughly 2½ cups vodka.
- Add vodka, lime juice, and agave nectar to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain into two martini or coupe glasses and garnish with cucumber slices.
- Add vodka, lime juice, and agave nectar to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain into two tumbler glasses filled with ice. Top with 2 ounces each club soda. Garnish with lime wedges.
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