Cucumber And Ginger Fizz Recipes

Steps:

• For the ginger-honey syrup:
• Combine ginger and ½ cup water in a blender and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup, pressing on solids to extract juice. Pour ½ cup of the ginger juice into a large resealable jar and stir in honey. (If you'd like to tone down the ginger a bit, add additional ¼ cup honey and ¼ cup water.) Seal jar tightly and shake until honey is completely dissolved (or rinse out blender and blend ginger juice and honey together to mix.) Makes enough for 10 cocktails. Syrup will keep 2 weeks in the refrigerator; shake well before using.
• For the cocktail:
• Combine blended Scotch, lemon juice, and Ginger-Honey Syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until well chilled. Add sparkling wine to a flute glass, then strain cocktail into glass. Gently float smoky Scotch on top of drink. Garnish with lemon twist and candied ginger.

Steps:

• Combine ginger and sugar with 4 cups water, or enough to cover, in a medium saucepan. Place over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; stir until sugar dissolves completely. Continue to simmer about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool to room temperature, at least 2 hours. Strain out the ginger, and discard.
• Combine the ginger syrup, lime juice, and seltzer in a pitcher. Pour into ice-filled glasses, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Put vodka and chopped cucumber in a nonreactive container. Refrigerate 1 hour. Strain; discard cucumber. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use, up to 2 days.
• Using a vegetable peeler, shave the remaining cucumber lengthwise into wide strips; discard seeds.
• Fill eight tumblers with ice. Add 3 cucumber strips and 3 tablespoons infused vodka to each glass. Squeeze, then drop, a lime wedge into each. Top with sparkling water; stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons syrup.

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, blend together the ginger, cucumber and 1/2 cup cold water. Strain and press the puree through a mesh sieve.
• Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon and cucumber wheel.
• Optional serving: Fill glasses with ice and one-half to two-thirds full with the blended juice. Top with lemonade and/or vodka.

Steps:

• In a tall glass, squeeze a wedge of lime, and then muddle with a few slices of cucumber. Then, combine 2 to 3 ounces vodka with ginger ale (and club soda if you prefer your drinks on the drier side), and stir with ice.

Steps:

• Place the peeled cucumber slices, mint, cilantro and sugar in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add the lime juice and gin. Fill the shaker halfway with ice and shake vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes (this seems like a long time, but it's essential).
• Fill a cocktail glass with fresh ice. Strain the drink into the glass, top with the club soda and garnish with a cucumber slice.