This refreshing cucumber vodka cocktail features simple ingredients like fresh cucumbers, lime juice, mint, vodka, Cointreau, and apple juice. Garnished with fresh mint sprigs and sliced cucumber, it offers fresh flavors that are perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day.

This recipe was originally posted on July 27th, 2013, and has been updated as of July 10th, 2024. 

Why You’ll Love This Cucumber Vodka Cocktail

I know, this is supposed to be a family website. But there is nothing wrong with a happy hour every now and then, especially if you can find a delicious, relatively natural cucumber cocktail like this one to enjoy. I’ll be honest here, I am not much of a drinker. That is, anymore. Twenty, even ten years ago, my tolerance for alcohol was quite a bit higher than it is now.  I really don’t know what happened to me. One day I woke up and couldn’t metabolize alcohol anymore.  Kind of stinks, to tell you the truth. Even though I would love to chill out with a glass of wine on a regular basis, it just doesn’t agree with me and it’s not worth the headache. Literally. But a smidge of vodka every now and then seems not to offend my system.

If you do drink, this Cucumber Vodka Cocktail is tasty, refreshing, and just plain pretty. It’s one of my favorite recipes because it’s not too sweet and not too alcoholic if you know what I mean. I can’t deal with cocktails that taste like alcoholic Kool-Aid.  When I’m eating a savory appetizer, overly sweet drinks don’t seem to taste quite right.  But besides that, overly sweet drinks go straight to my head. Ouch. This cucumber-vodka concoction is just right. It’s got fresh ingredients and is the perfect way to beat the heat and enjoy a cocktail that isn’t too overpowering. 

I am going to go against one of my blog rules, no writing about the weather….yawn. But I know so many people in different parts of the country who have been in sweltering heat the last few weeks. Not here in Manhattan Beach, California, of course. I’m telling you, if you want to live by the beach and never need air conditioning, this is the town for you. It’s the end of July and I am wearing jeans and long sleeves as I type this, with the windows closed. If the sidewalks are sizzling where you are, and you’d like to enjoy a cooling drink, you should give this a go.

You can make this drink entirely in advance for your next party if you like and then just add the garnish and ice cubes at the last minute. That way you’ll be as cool as a cucumber when your guests arrive. Couldn’t resist.

Ingredient Notes

• English cucumbers

• mint leaves

• fresh lime juice

• Vodka: Use your favorite smooth vodka– I used Belvedere. 

• Cointreau

• apple juice (if you’re juicing the cucumber, you might as well juice an apple, too)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Slice the half cucumber into rounds and reserve for garnish.
2. If you have a juicer, juice the whole cucumber, unpeeled. If you don’t have a juicer, quarter the cucumbers lengthwise, scrape out the seeds with a spoon, and discard the seeds. Coarsely chop the cucumber and puree in a food processor until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. You should end up with approximately 1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of cucumber juice. If you end up with more than that, reserve it for another use or add it to the cocktail, if desired.
3. Place mint and lime juice in a pitcher and press on the mint leaves with a wooden spoon or muddler to extract the flavor from the mint leaves.* Add the 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons fresh cucumber juice, lime juice, vodka, Cointreau, and apple juice and stir to combine.
4. Pour into 4 highball glasses filled with ice. Garnish the glasses with cucumber slices, a lime wedge, and/or mint leaves.

Expert Tips

• This can also be made with a cocktail shaker if desired. Place ice cubes, mint, and lime juice in a shaker and shake. Add remaining ingredients and shake. Strain into four glasses filled with ice. Garnish with cucumber and mint leaves.
• You can serve this cocktail in a highball glass, coupe glass, collins glass, or whatever you like. 
• To make this a mocktail, substitute soda water, club soda, or sparkling water for the vodka and Cointreau. You could also try ginger beer (which is non-alcoholic) which gives it a really deep and delicious flavor. 
• There’s no added sweetener in this recipe as the apple juice add the sweetness. If you’d like additional sweetener you can add a little agave syrup or simple syrup. 
• You can substitute fresh basil leaves instead of mint if desired. 

More Mocktail & Cocktail Recipes

Ginger Lime Spritzer

Spicy Tequila Cocktail Recipe

Hibiscus Mocktail Recipe

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