You are going to LOVE this Mint Cucumber Lemonade recipe! It’s a quick vodka drink that is perfect for sipping poolside or enjoying with friends on a warm summer night. This copy-cat Newport Lemonade Recipe from Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill is tasty, refreshing and ready in just minutes!
Some mixed drinks are just made for summer and this one, with fresh cucumber and mint, is summer in a glass!
Cucumber gives cocktails such a crisp, clean flavor. Whether you make a Cucumber Gimlet or a Cucumber Margarita or try this Cucumber Lemonade with Vodka, I know you’ll freak out over the flavors.
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Why This Recipe Works
This is one of those vodka recipes that will leave you thinking, “why didn’t I make this sooner?” It’s not ground breaking, but it’s special in it’s simplicity and refreshment.
This Cucumber Lemonade cocktail is a delicious blend of muddled mint, cucumber and fresh lemon juice. Combined with vodka and sweetened with just a touch of simple syrup the flavor is delightful.
You’ll be sipping on this refreshing herb and citrus cocktail in under 5 minutes.
If you don’t have a Wood Ranch restaurant near you, no worries! Now you can make one of their most popular cocktails (they call it Newport Lemonade) in your own home.
The flavors are classic, it’s easy to make and it’s a tasty vodka recipe to share with friends (even if they’re not big cocktail drinkers!).
It has boozy spa-water vibes. Doesn’t that sound like something you need to try?
Ingredients
The ingredients are super straightforward. You just need some fresh lemon, cucumber and mint along with your favorite vodka and some simple syrup.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Add the fresh cucumber slices, mint leaves and the fresh lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.
Muddle it all together to release all that gorgeous flavor.
*How to muddle: Muddling is just bruising the herbs and/or fruit and vegetables to release their juices and oils. I’m sure there is a “proper” way to do it, but I just get in there and break it all up. It’s what gives this cucumber lemonade cocktail all it’s flavor!
If you don’t have a muddler you can use the handle of a long wooden spoon or even the round end of an ice cream scooper.
Add the vodka and the simple syrup.
Add ice and shake well.
Strain into a cocktail glass with fresh ice.
I’ll be honest. I never pick the “right” glass for my cocktails. I’m not a trained bartender so I usually have a glass in mind. But as you strain the cocktail over fresh ice, sometimes you find that your glass is too big.
Or in this case, my glass was a smidge too small to fit all the cocktail from the shaker. But I love these little glasses (because they are perfect for tastings and wine pours) so what are you going to do, you know?
Garnish with a slice of cucumber and fresh mint. Or don’t! What I love about making cocktails at home is that you don’t have to follow the “rules”.
Garnish is great in pictures but sometimes it just gets in the way. It can be a nice finishing touch for company, but more often than not, I skip it.
Variations
While I love the trifecta of mint, cucumber and lemon in this cocktail, you can certainly make a few changes based on taste or what you happen to have on hand. Here are a few ideas:
- Replace the fresh lemon juice with fresh lime juice.
- Replace the mint with fresh basil. Basil has a bit of a peppery flavor but still blends well with cucumber and lemon.
- Replace the cucumber (or add to it) with a few small slices of fresh ginger and muddle. You’ll get a warmer and spicier flavor.
- Replace the vodka with gin.
Top Tips
- Fresh lemon juice is key! Do not use store-bought or prepared lemonade. Fresh hits different.
- I like to peel the cucumber before slicing. You want the crisp and fresh flavor of the inner cucumber, not any bitterness from the peel that can be released when bruised or crushed.
- If you don’t love sweet cocktails, use less simple syrup to start. You can always add more until you get a balanced flavor that appeals to you.
- Chill your glass. When serving this on super hot days, I like to chill my glass before making and enjoying this cocktail. It’s a little thing, but when I’m enjoying it outside, it’s a game-changer! You could also serve this in a copper Moscow Mule mug!
- When working with fresh citrus, be sure and roll your lemon on your countertop before slicing and squeezing. You’ll definitely get more juice that way, which is handy if you’re making more than one at a time or if you’re going in for a refill, later.
- Serve over ice cubes rather than crushed ice. Or even one big large ice block. The ice will melt more quickly and water it down and obscure all those refreshing flavors.
This is, by far, my favorite citrus squeezer! Read my favorite Bar Tools post to see what else I love.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sadly, no. This particular cocktail is best when made at the time you are drinking it.
I like to use unflavored vodka that has a smooth finish. But you can try a flavored vodka for a slight variation. A citrus vodka makes a lot of sense but a vanilla vodka could also be really interesting.
There is also a new lower alcohol vodka I just learned about that I am interested in. I like to enjoy cocktails and have no interest in the hangover, m’kay.
Sure! If you’re desiring a more effervescent cocktail, add a splash. It’s also a great way to dilute a cocktail a bit if you are planning on day drinking in the sun.
This Mint Cucumber Lemonade with Vodka is light, crisp, herbal and takes less than 5 minutes to make. It’s definitely on my summer cocktail rotation list. Hope it’s on yours, too!
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Related Recipes
- Rosé Lemonade Recipe
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- Long Vodka Cocktail Recipe
- Lemonade Moscow Mule Recipe
- Ginger Tequila Lemonade Recipe
- Champagne Float with Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
Mint Cucumber Lemonade Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1.5 ounce lemon juice
- 1.5 ounces simple syrup
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- 8 slices of fresh cucumber
Instructions
- To a cocktail shaker, add lemon juice, mint leaves and cucumber slices then muddle.
- Add vodka and simple syrup.
- Add ice and shake well.
- Strain over fresh ice in a cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a cucumber slice and fresh mint if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice, not store-bought or prepared lemonade.
- Peel the cucumber before slicing. The peel can be bitter.
- Chill your glass for an extra refreshing cocktail.
- Serve over larger ice cubes rather than crushed ice.
- If you don’t love sweet cocktails, use less simple syrup to start. You can always add more until you get a balanced flavor that appeals to you.
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