The Emperor Tiberius of Rome craved one a day, while King Louis XIV of France erected glass houses to ensure he was never without one. What else could we be talking about than the humble cucumber, of course! One of the sixteen natural botanicals at the heart of Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur. And since August is officially cucumber time, we’re celebrating this royally refreshing fruit with a bounteous bevy of recipes that make use of it every which way. A cocktail cucumber mash-up to keep things cool all silly season long.
JUICED
Eastern sun rises
Western happy hour begins
Day breaks everywhere
Our first cocktail is so serenely perfect, it stirred us to pen a haiku. Eastern sunrise meets western happy hour in this light, refreshing remedy of gin, cucumber, and sweet nigori sake. Inspired by the Buddhist purification ceremony known as the Cucumber Blessing held in Japan each summer, it’s sure to fill your cup with spiritual good health.
BREAKFAST IN TOKYO
1 oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
1 oz nigori sake
1 oz cucumber juice
Shake the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, and strain into a chilled porcelain teacup. Garnish with a fresh cucumber wheel.
SLICED
Far from a last-minute garnish afterthought, cucumber has been making an appearance as an ingredient in cocktails since the early days. The cucumber’s silky flesh adds a smooth texture to a drink, while its peppery rind brings unique layers of botanical depth. Here, its assets play the perfect supporting role in this spritzy Champagne Cup, a classic recipe adapted from Isabella Beeton’s 1861 Book of Household Management.
CHAMPAGNE CUP
1 ¼ oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
¾ oz Grand Marnier
3 oz brut champagne, chilled
1 oz club soda, chilled
cucumber and orange slices
fresh mint
Muddle 2-3 cucumber slices and 1-2 orange slices with the two liquors in the base of a cocktail shaker. Add ice to the shaker and shake until cold. Strain into a chilled flute, and top with the champagne and club soda. Garnish with further orange and cucumber slices, and a sprig of fresh mint.
INFUSED
In 1920s speakeasy slang, to say someone was a gimlet was to call them a chronic bore. Luckily this next cocktail is anything but tedious. In fact, we think that because cucumber and lime make such refreshing bedfellows, after a few rounds of this cucumber-infused Gimlet your guests will be demanding you get both them and the drink out more often.
CUCUMBER GIMLET
1 ½ oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
1 ½ oz cucumber vodka
1 oz lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker to chill. Serve up in a chilled cocktail glass or on the rocks in a lowball. Garnish with a far-from-boring cucumber wheel or a sprig of fresh mint.
PICKLED
There once was a host named Yvette,
Who’s Martinis were perfectly wet,
And if an olive was missed,
Instead of a twist,
She’d say a pickle is your next best bet!
The cornichon is not only the littlest of all cucumbers but also the biggest star of any self-respecting charcuterie board. So, if you’re a fan of charcuterie, enjoy the brininess of a Dirty Martini, or the tanginess of a Gibson, we think you’ll also love this upside-down aperitif. A tiny delight topped off, of course, with an ickle cucumber pickle.
TOPSY-TURVY-TINI
1 oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
2 oz dry vermouth
cornichon
Stir the liquors with ice in a mixing glass, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with the cornichon.
AND FINALLY…
If you love cucumber as much as we do, you can enjoy its organic loveliness for time immemorial with our illustrated Botanical Series 100% cotton tea towels. Perfect to polish up after a cucumber tipple or two. Available for purchase on the Pomp & Whimsy shop site.