Cucumber martini Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
You’ll find the Cucumber martini sits in the modern martini family: gin-forward, chilled, and built around a single fresh accent. While “martini” has a long, tangled history, this cucumber-leaning variation reads as a contemporary twist that borrows the drink’s clean silhouette and sharp focus, then softens it with garden freshness. It’s less about old-school ceremony and more about a crisp, aromatic update that still feels unmistakably martini-like in a cocktail glass.
On the palate, gin brings the backbone with its botanical snap, while cucumber slices add a cool, green lift that makes the drink feel brighter and more refreshing. A half teaspoon of sugar smooths the edges, rounding any sharpness and helping the cucumber’s delicate character carry through. Just a teaspoon of absinthe threads in a concentrated anise note, adding a perfumed, lingering finish that plays against the gin’s botanicals rather than overpowering them.
Serve this when you want something sleek but not severe—ideal before dinner, or anytime you’re craving a clean, spa-like sip with a little intrigue. If you enjoy gin martinis but want a softer, fresher profile, this is an easy fit; if you love absinthe’s aroma, you’ll appreciate how it shows up as a subtle accent rather than the main event.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
Gin leads with crisp juniper while cucumber slices bring cool, watery green freshness, and a half teaspoon of sugar rounds the edges into a lightly sweet, garden-clean profile. A teaspoon of absinthe adds a sharp herbal lift that keeps the sugar from feeling flat, making this click for martini drinkers who want a bracing, aromatic sip with a fresh twist.
Method
How to make a Cucumber martini
- Absinthe Teaspoon, Gin 60ml, Cucumber 3 slices, Sugar Half teaspoon
-
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle a couple of slices of cucumber with half a teaspoon of sugar
-
- Fill the shaker with ice and add two shots of gin
-
- Take a chilled martini glass and roll some absinthe around the glass to coat it
-
- Flick the glass to remove excess absinthe and strain shaker into the glass
-
- Add a slice of cucumber to garnish and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Cucumber martini with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What's the best way to incorporate the cucumber flavor into the Cucumber martini?
To best incorporate the cucumber flavor into the Cucumber martini, muddle the cucumber slices at the bottom of the shaker before adding the other ingredients. This will release the cucumber's juices and essential oils, infusing the drink with a fresh cucumber taste.
What are some garnish ideas for a Cucumber martini?
A popular garnish for a Cucumber martini includes a thin cucumber slice floated on top of the drink or a small cucumber ribbon twisted around a cocktail stick. For an aromatic touch, add a small sprig of fresh dill or mint.
Can I substitute the absinthe in a Cucumber martini?
Yes, if absinthe isn't to your taste or you don't have it on hand, you can use Pernod or another anise-flavored liqueur as a substitute. Keep in mind that this will slightly alter the flavor profile of the cocktail.
What occasions are best suited for serving Cucumber martinis?
Cucumber martinis are perfect for spring and summer gatherings, offering a refreshing and light option. They're well-suited for outdoor events, brunches, and garden parties, providing a sophisticated touch to any occasion.
Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Cucumber martini?
Certainly! For a non-alcoholic version of the Cucumber martini, replace the gin with a non-alcoholic spirit or cucumber-infused water. Use a non-alcoholic absinthe substitute or omit it altogether, and adjust the sugar to taste. This will give you a refreshing mocktail that mirrors the essence of the original.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Dive into this potent mix of spirits
Aunt Roberta
Brandy, Vodka, Absinthe, Gin, Blackberry liqueur
Experience this aromatic Martini with daisy flair
Yellow Daisy
Dry gin, Absinthe, Grand Marnier, White vermouth
Discover this classic blend of cognac and citrus.
Morning Glory
Absinthe, Cognac, Orange liqueur, Sugar / simple syrup, Aromatic bitters, Lemon juice
Discover this intriguing blend of cognac and absinthe.
Saratoga Brace Up
Absinthe, Cognac, Lemon juice, Aromatic bitters, Soda water, Sugar, Egg
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we'll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we'll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments