Looking for an easy sipper? Look no further than the Eastside cocktail. This drink is crisp and refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day.
What is an Eastside Cocktail?
The Eastside cocktail is a refreshing, herbal, minty, cucumber concoction. It has a crisp and refreshing taste from the cucumber and mint. And the gin adds in a herbal or botanical flavor.
Gin is made from juniper berries which tend to have an almost pine like flavor. It also incorporates a wide variety of other herbs, spices and citrus flavors. It is a very robust, multi-flavored liquor.
The Eastside Cocktail is pretty similar to the Southside cocktail. The only difference between the two is the addition of the muddled cucumber to this drink.
The crisp, minty flavor of this drink is so perfect for hot summer days. It is a perfect sipping cocktail for days by the pool or summer BBQs.
How to Muddle Ingredients
For this cocktail you have to muddle both the mint leaves as well as the cucumber. When you muddle ingredients, the goal is to simply get some of their juices or flavors mixed into the drink. You want to be sure that you do not smash or pulverize the ingredients too much.
Mint can be particularly potent if you muddle it with too much gusto. So, when muddling in this drink, just remember, less is often times more.
How to make this drink:
Though this cocktail isn’t as simple as just tossing some ingredients together, it’s still not too difficult to make. And the refreshing crisp taste is worth the time.
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- .75 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz lime
- Ice
- 3 Cucumber Slices
- 10 mint leaves
Instructions:
Step one
Before you get started making the drink, you want to gather all of your ingredients as well as your glass, muddler, shaker and jigger.
Step two
Next, fill your glass full of ice. You can use either a gimlet or a rocks glass for this drink.
Step three
Then, you want to slice your cucumber into three or so medium thick slices. And then toss those into cocktail shaker.
Step four
Next, grab your mint and pick off or around 10 leaves and also toss those in your cocktail shaker with your cucumber.
Step Five
Grab your jigger and measure one ounce of lime juice. Pour that into your Shaker with your cucumber and mint.
Step six
Again using your jigger measure ¾ of an ounce of simple syrup and add that to the shaker.
Step Seven
Take your muddler, place it in your cocktail shaker and gently grind the cucumber mint lime and simple syrup concoction. Be sure to not be too rough, just enough pressure and motion to get the flavors and juices out of the mint and cucumber.
Step Eight
Once you have muddled the cucumber and mint leaves you can use your jigger to add 2 oz of gin to your shaker.
Step Nine
Put the top on your shaker and shake ingredients for around 15 or 20 seconds.
Remove the top, put the Hawthorne strainer on your shaker and pour the liquid from your shaker to your rock’s glass over your ice.
Step Ten
For the garnish, you will cut one additional slice of cucumber. Cut a small notch in the side of the cucumber and place it on the rim of your glass.
Grab a small sprig of mint leaves and add that to the side of the glass as well.
And with that it’s ready to enjoy!
Recipe
Eastside Cocktail
Equipment
- jigger
- Hawthorne strainer
- cocktail shaker
- Rocks glass
- Muddler
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- .75 oz Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Lime Juice
- 3 – 4 slices Cucumber
- 10 Leaves Mint
- Ice
Instructions
- Slice your cucumber into 5 or so slices.
- Fill your Rocks glass with ice.
- Toss 5 – 8 mint leaves into your shaker.
- Toss 3 or so slices of cucumber into your shaker.
- Measure .75 oz of simple syrup with your jigger and toss into your shaker.
- Measure 1 oz of lime juice with your jigger and toss into your shaker.
- Take your muddler and gently press and smash your mint and cucumber. Don't be too rough.
- Add ice to the shaker, almost to the top.
- Measure 2 oz of gin with your jigger and toss into your shaker.
- Top the shaker off and shake it up for around 15 or 20 seconds.
- Pull the top off and add the hawthorne strainer over the top of the shaker.
- Pour your drink from the cocktail shaker into your rocks glass over the ice.
- Place a cucumber slice on the glass rim and toss a few mint leaves on top as garnish.
Nutrition information provided is just an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.
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