Cute as a Cucumber (Empress Gin Cucumber Cocktail)
Looking for a cocktail that’s as stunning as it is refreshing? The Cute as a Cucumber cocktail is a gorgeous and easy-to-make gin cucumber cocktail! Made with Empress Indigo Gin, cucumber, thai basil, coconut milk and lime. This beautiful blue gin cocktail is sure to “Empress” any guest 😜.
If you love gin cocktails, you’ll also want to try my Garden Gin Spritz, my Rhubarb Rose or my Limoncello Martini.
I partnered with Empress Gin to mix up the Cute as a Cucumber recipe! Recipe and ideas are my own.
I’m always searching for ways to create moments that spark conversations with my cocktails while still keeping them easy and stress free for anyone who wants to give them a try. The Cute as a Cucumber cocktail is when mixology and magic meet in your glass. The Empress gin brings a smooth and botanical base while the coconut water and milk provide a silky texture to every sip. The crisp and refreshing taste of the cucumber and Thai basil really brighten the flavor of the cocktail.
When does the magic happen? When you add the lime juice to the cocktail, it will turn from a deep indigo to a more pinkish-purple color. The perfect way to wow your guests and you don’t have to be a master mixologist to pull it off!
Recipe Ingredients
See the recipe card for quantities.
- Empress Indigo Gin: The butterfly pea blossom in the gin creates a beautiful and bright purple color for the cocktail.
- Simple syrup: Use bottled or make it at home with 1 part sugar and 1 part water.
- Cucumber: I recommend using a Persian or English cucumber. Look for firm cucumbers when shopping, soft or punctured cucumbers are typically gone bad and can have a pungent flavor.
- Coconut milk: For this one, use coconut milk that comes from a carton and not a can. Canned coconut milk is thicker. For this recipe, I used Vita Coco.
- Coconut water: Make sure to use 100% coconut water without any additives or sugars.
- Thai basil leaves: Using Thai basil leaves over (sweet) basil leaves affects the flavor profile of the drink. You can typically find Thai basil leaves at your local grocery store or an Asian market. Mint or basil would also work!
- Lime: Use fresh lime juice. When shopping choose dark and bright green limes that are firm for the freshest juice.
Tools & Equipment List
Check out my favorite glasses here!
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Rinse and cut your cucumber into cubes.
Step 2: To a cocktail shaker – add thai basil, cucumber and simple syrup. Muddle until juice is released from cucumber. Add coconut water and ice and shake until chilled.
Step 3: Fill a cocktail glass with ice. Add coconut milk. Strain cocktail mixture into the glass. Serve with lime. Stir in about ½ oz of lime juice before enjoying. If desired, garnish with cucumber and edible flowers.
Watch How to Make this Recipe
Tips for making the Cute as a Cucumber (Empress Gin Cucumber Cocktail)
- The lime juice will turn the color of the gin to a beautiful pinkish-purple color instead of blue, so I recommend serving it on the side. If you don’t care about cocktail color, you can add ½ oz to the cocktail before shaking. You can also add a dash of blue spirulina powder to the drink if you prefer a blue gin cocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Empress Gin gets its color from the presence of butterfly pea blossoms. When the anthocyanins in the flower interact with the acidity of the lime, it turns it into a pinkish-purple color.
You can, but you will want to blend before using to prevent your cocktail from becoming grainy and separating. Lessen the quantity of canned coconut milk compared to the carton. Coconut milk from a carton is a smooth and light, water-like liquid that goes great in cocktails.
Look, aroma, and taste are all differentiators between the two. Thai basil leaves have more of a serrated and sturdy edge, while basil leaves are bigger and more floppy. Thai basil leaves have a purple stem, while basil leaves have green stems. Thai basil has an anise-like aroma while basil leaves have a sweeter, peppery aroma. When it comes to taste, Thai basil leaves have a slightly spicy, licorice flavor, while basil has a sweet and peppery flavor that is more mellow.
The best cucumber to use is a persian cucumber. It is crispier and sweeter than a traditional cucumber. If you can’t find persian cucumbers, English cucumbers are very similar and work well in the cocktail. A traditional cucumber will be more watery and could produce a more muted, watery cucumber flavor.
More Empress Gin Cocktails to try.
- Eternally Grapefruit (Gin Grapefruit Cocktail)
- Empress Gin Lavender Lemonade
- Lemongrass Cucumber Collins
If you loved this recipe, I would SO appreciate it if you would give this recipe a star review below. Also, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me @thesocialsipper!
For more great recipes, follow me on Instagram, Tiktok, Pinterest and Facebook.
If you’re interested in taking scroll-stopping photos and videos of your food and drinks, follow @foodphotographymentor on Insta and check out our food photography equipment here.
Cute as a Cucumber (Empress Gin Cucumber Cocktail)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Empress Indigo Gin
- 8-10 thai basil leaves
- ¼ cup diced cucumber
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 1 oz coconut water
- 1 oz coconut milk, from carton
- Lime on side, for serving (1/2 oz lime juice)
- Edible flowers, for garnish
Equipment
Instructions
- To a cocktail shaker – add thai basil, cucumber and simple syrup. Muddle until juice is released from cucumber. Add coconut water and ice and shake until chilled.
- Fill a cocktail glass with ice. Add coconut milk. Strain cocktail mixture into the glass. Serve with lime. Stir in about ½ oz of lime juice before enjoying. If desired, garnish with cucumber and edible flowers.
Notes
- Color may vary depending on bottle, if you want your cocktail to be more blue, you can add a dash of blue spirulina powder.
- Lime juice on side: lime juice changes the color of the cocktail, so I recommend serving on the side. If you don’t care about cocktail color, you can add ½ oz to the cocktail before shaking.
