This simple Eastside Cocktail recipe will brighten your spring! It's the perfect drink for the season with Gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and fresh mint and cucumber.
Prep time: 1 minute minute
Mixing time: 1 minute minute
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- 6-8 mint leaves
- 2 cucumber slices
Shaker
Muddler
Strainer & Fine-strainer
Coupe Glass
Prep Glass: Chill your coupe glass.
Muddle: In your shaker, muddle 2 cucumber slices.
Add Mint: Add 6-8 mint leaves into the shaker
Add Ingredients: Pour in ¾ oz simple syrup, 1 oz fresh lime juice, and 2 oz Gin.
Shake: Fill the shaker with ice and shake it well until well combined.
Strain: Fine strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish: Garnish with a cucumber wheel or mint sprig if desired.
Substitutes:
- Gin: If you're out of Gin, vodka is a great substitute that will allow the other flavors to shine through. For a more floral note, try using elderflower liqueur instead.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Bottled lime juice can work in a pinch if fresh limes aren't available. However, I always recommend fresh when possible for the best flavor.
- Simple Syrup: If you don't have simple syrup, you can make your own by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over heat. Alternatively, agave nectar or honey can be used for a different sweetness profile.
Making a Pitcher of Eastside Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher serving 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That's 16 oz of Gin, 8 oz of fresh lime juice, and 6 oz of simple syrup. You'll also need about 48-64 mint leaves and 16 cucumber slices.
- Mix: Muddle the cucumber slices in a large pitcher. Clap the mint leaves between your hands and place them into the pitcher. Add the Gin, lime juice, and simple syrup, add ice cubes and stir well.
- Serve: Strain the mixture into individual chilled coupe glasses, garnish as desired, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Gin Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic gin substitute; several on the market do an excellent job of mimicking the botanical flavors of Gin.
- Proceed As Usual: Replace the Gin with the non-alcoholic substitute and follow the rest of the recipe for a refreshing, non-alcoholic Eastside Cocktail.
Making it Vegan:
- Simple Syrup: Ensure your syrup is not made with sugar processed with bone char or other animal-derived products. Alternatively, use agave nectar as a sweetener, which is naturally vegan.
- Proceed As Usual: With this adjustment, your Eastside Cocktail will be vegan-friendly. Enjoy!