Cucumber Fennel Cooler and Cocktail

inCocktail Recipes, Cooler, Smoothie, & Spritzer Recipes, Recipes
  • YIELDS | 4 SERVINGS
  • PREP TIME | 10 MINS
  • COOK TIME | 10 MINS

One sip of this refreshing elixir and you’ll feel like you just stepped into a fresh, breezy spa. I make this light cocktail often during the warm summer months when fresh cucumbers are abundant. This delicious concoction is equally as yummy with or without the spirits. Bonus: You can make the fennel simple syrup days in advance and store it in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup filtered water
  • 2 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • 5 mini seedless cucumbers, chopped, plus 1 cucumber thinly sliced for garnish
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 4 slices lemon for garnish
  • 1 cup gin
  • Club soda
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, bring the water, sugar, fennel seeds, and lemon juice to a simmer and stir until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Turn the stove off and let the mixture steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain into a high-speed blender. Discard fennel seeds.
  3. Add the chopped cucumbers to the blender and purée for 10-15 seconds, or until the mixture is well combined. Strain into a measuring cup.
  4. Fill 4 rocks glasses with ice.
  5. Divide the cooled fennel cucumber syrup among 4 glasses and add 2 ounces of gin to each, if using, and top with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of mint and slices of cucumber and lemon.