Cucumber Elderflower Spritzer Recipes

Steps:

• Grate the cucumbers on the large holes of a box grater into a medium bowl. Wrap the grated cucumber in a piece of cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze the cucumber juice into a pitcher; discard the grated cucumber. Stir the lime zest and juice, elderflower liqueur and 5 or 6 dashes orange bitters into the cucumber juice. Refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 30 minutes.
• Drop a sugar cube into each flute and add a few dashes of orange bitters to each. Pour the champagne into the pitcher and stir. Pour into the flutes.

Steps:

• Muddle sliced strawberries, halved cucumber slices, sugar, and lemon juice in the bottom of a pitcher until fruits break down and release most of their juices and sugar has dissolved. Stir in gin and St-Germain to combine. Fill 6 glasses halfway with ice. Divide fruit-and-gin mixture evenly among glasses. Top each with 1 to 2 ounces club soda; stir once. Top each with a few dashes of bitters, whole strawberries, and cucumber rounds; serve immediately.

Steps:

• For the sipping vinegar: Mash the blackberries and sugar together in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for 2 days, stirring occasionally. Add the vinegar to the macerated blackberries and refrigerate for another day. Press the mixture through a fine mesh strainer, discarding the solids. Transfer your sipping vinegar to a container.
• For the herbal tea: Combine the ginger and 2 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the tea bags and turn off the heat. Let the mixture steep for 5 minutes, then strain and cool.
• For the spritzer: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 2 ounces blackberry sipping vinegar, 2 ounces cooled herbal tea, 1/2 ounce lemon juice and 1/2 ounce elderflower syrup. Shake vigorously and pour over a glass filled with ice. Top off with some seltzer and garnish with 3 cucumber slices, 1 ginger coin and a mint sprig. Repeat.

Steps:

• Fill a large wine goblet with ice. Carefully pour the champagne over the large cold ice cubes, followed by the St-Germain, and finish with the club soda. Add the lemon wheels and stir slightly.
• Dominant Flavors: floral with pear and grapefruit
• Body: light, effervescent
• Dryness: medium to off-dry
• Complexity: low
• Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: summer fruits like apricot from the champagne against citrus
• Finish: short, sweet
• Glass: large wine goblet