Friday Cocktail - St. Patrick's Lemon Cucumber Martini

oh mi... doesn't this sound absolutely lovely? Refreshing, light and just a hint of green for St. Patrick's Day!  Discovered on Beyond Mere Sustenance, we are definitely going to give this gorgeous cocktail a try this weekend.  Thinking maybe with Tom's favorite, fresh Tomales Bay oysters...

Sounds so yummy!

Ingredients:

Lemon Cucumber Simple Syrup:

• 2 lemons: juice both, zest 1
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cucumber peeled: 1/2 for simple syrup, 1/2 for garnish

Cocktail:

• 4 oz. gin 
• 1 oz. lemon cucumber simple syrup
• 1 oz. dry white vermouth
• 8 large leaves sweet basil, well muddled 

Instructions:

Lemon Cucumber Simple Syrup - 

1. Zest 1 of the 2 lemons, and set aside. Squeeze juice from both into a glass measuring cup. Add water to equal 1 cup. Add to a small saucepan along with the sugar.
2. Bring just to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low. Do not boil! 
3. Add 12 - 1/2" thick slices of cucumber to the saucepan. Simmer (not boil) 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat. Add lemon zest. Cool completely. Strain into a jar, and refrigerate until ready to use. 

Cocktail - 

1. Add gin, lemon cucumber simple syrup, vermouth, muddled basil and ice to a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake well. Strain into glass. If you have an aversion to flecks of basil, use a fine mesh strainer.
3. Garnish with thin slices of cucumber

Make sure to pop over to Beyond Mere Sustenance for more details and more fun ideas for entertaining by the sea! More Here

Don't forget to use your favorite martini glasses!

Seashell Martini Glasses - Set of 4

New! Monogrammed Martini Glasses with Gold Rims.  

Perfect for weddings, house warming gifts and more

Have a wonderful weekend!