Sparkling Cucumber Melon (a gin & prosecco cocktail)
During the spring and summer months, swap out your heavier libations for a light, refreshing prosecco cocktail made with fresh cucumber and cantaloupe melon juices and good gin. We like these sparkling drinks for weekend brunch because they pair well with food and aren’t overly sweet. Prepping the cantaloupe and cucumber juice ahead of time makes assembling this gin and prosecco cocktail an easy drink for entertaining.
I have to admit, I haven’t always been a big gin drinker, but I find that this spirit is especially good during the warmer spring and summer months. Some of my favorites gin drinks are the classic French 75 and this blushing good rhubarb ginger gin rickey. Now, I can add this sparkling cucumber melon drink to my list of favorites.
The combination of fresh cucumber and cantaloupe melon juices are light and balanced with the mineral herbal flavors of good gin and the bubbly fizz of sparkling wine. It’s especially good when the melons are at their peak during the summer months.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- It’s light and refreshing.
- The combination of cucumber and melon with gin and prosecco is unexpected and really delicious.
- The sparkling wine gives this gin and prosecco cocktail a festive feel.
- It’s a perfect brunch cocktail.
Ingredients:
- Cantaloupe Juice – made from fresh cantaloupe (recipe given).
- Cucumber Juice – made from fresh cucumbers (recipe given).
- Good Gin (we like Hendrick’s)
- Simple Syrup – use homemade or store-bought.
- Chilled Prosecco – or other sparkling wine. No need to use expensive champagne.
How to make cucumber juice:
- Peel the cucumbers with a vegetable peeler and slice lengthwise.
- Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and discard.
- Grate the cucumber flesh on the large holes of a box grater.
- Transfer the grated cucumber to a mesh sieve set over a bowl or glass measuring cup and let rest for 20-30 minutes. The cucumber juice will drip into the container.
- Press lightly on the pulp to get the last remaining juice out of the cucumbers. Voila. Cucumber juice.
Pro-Tip: Don’t toss the grated cucumbers out. You can use them in this easy shredded cucumber salad or make a tasty Greek tzatziki to serve with warm pita bread and grilled chicken, lamb or beef.
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How to make cantaloupe juice
- Cut open the cantaloupe and scrape out the seeds to discard.
- Add chunks of cantaloupe to a blender with about half the amount of fresh, cold water.
- Secure the lid of the blender and pulse until the cantaloupe is completely pureed.
- Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or glass measuring cup and pour the melon puree into the sieve.
- When the juice has finished draining into the bowl, discard the pulp.
Note: If you’re making the cucumber and melon juices ahead of time, refrigerate them in separate containers until you’re ready to make the drinks. Give each of the juices a stir before making the cocktails because some sediment will settle at the bottom.
How to make cucumber melon gin and prosecco cocktail
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the cucumber and melon juices, simple syrup and gin.
- Secure the lid and shake for 30 seconds until the contents are icy cold and the outside of the shaker is frosty.
- Strain the cucumber melon drink into a coupe or champagne glass and top with chilled prosecco.
- Serve with a melon ball garnish and thin strips of cucumber or cucumber spears.
Variations and Swaps
You’ll find that cucumber juice as well as cantaloupe juice are both delicious on their own or mixed with other drinks.
- Try cantaloupe juice instead of orange or grapefruit in the morning. It’s less sweet and has a wonderful aroma.
- Cucumber juice is great on its own or mixed with sparkling water and it’s essential for this cucumber pioneer cocktail.
- Muddle fresh mint leaves in the cocktail shaker before adding the other ingredients for a subtle mint flavor in the drink.
- Use flavored simple syrup like this honey thyme version for a sweet, herbal touch.
- Make a cucumber melon mocktail by swapping the gin and prosecco with plain sparkling water or cucumber flavored Perrier.
FAQ’s
Keep them for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Stir before using.
For the most part, yes — and I definitely recommend making both the cucumber juice and melon juice ahead of time. Assemble the juices, simple syrup and gin together and refrigerate until ice cold. Assemble the prosecco cocktail at the last minute by combining the juices with sparkling wine (so it stays fizzy).
Yes! See directions in the recipe card.
You’ll love this simple gin and prosecco drink for your next weekend brunch or patio party. It’s juicy and quenching without being cloyingly sweet and the flavors are complementary to so many dishes.
More prosecco cocktails you might like:
- Elderflower Prosecco Cocktail
- Guava Tangerine Fizz
- Champagne Passion Fruit Cocktail
- Cognac French 75
- Ruby Thyme Spritzer
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Cucumber Melon Sparkler (a prosecco cocktail)
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
- cocktail shaker
INGREDIENTS:
FOR CANTALOUPE JUICE:
- 1 cup cantaloupe
- ½ cup water
FOR CUCUMBER JUICE:
- 2-3 large cucumbers
COCKTAILS BY THE GLASS:
- ice
- 1 ounce cucumber juice
- 1 ounce cantaloupe juice
- 1 ounce Hendrick’s Gin
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup
- 2 ounces prosecco chilled
COCKTAILS BY THE PITCHER:
- 1 ¼ cups cucumber juice
- 1 ¼ cups cantaloupe juice
- 1 ¼ cups Hendrick’s Gin
- 6 tablespoons simple syrup
- 2 ½ cups chilled prosecco
DIRECTIONS:
MAKE MELON JUICE:
- Add one cup of cantaloupe and ½ cup of cold water to a blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds or until the cantaloupe is completely pureed in the water. Place a fine mesh sieve over a glass measuring cup or bowl. Pour the cantaloupe juice into the sieve and strain away the pulp. Discard the pulp. Use the cantaloupe juice. Can make the cantaloupe juice 2-3 days in advance. Keep refrigerated.
MAKE THE CUCUMBER JUICE:
- Place a sieve over a bowl and set aside.
- Peel 2-3 large cucumbers. Slice in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
- Use the large holes on a box grater to grate the cucumber and transfer to the sieve. Let it rest for 20-30 minutes so that the cucumber juice drains. Lightly press on the cucumber to extract the last of the juice. Can be made up to 2-3 days in advance. Keep refrigerated.
FOR A SINGLE COCKTAIL:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the cucumber juice, cantaloupe juice, gin and simple syrup. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds until icy cold.
- Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass and top with the chilled prosecco.
- Garnish with a melon ball and cucumber slice.
FOR A PITCHER OF SPARKLING CUCUMBER MELON COCKTAILS: (serves 10).
- In a 32-ounce pitcher, combine the cucumber juice, cantaloupe juice, gin and simple syrup in the pitcher. Chill several hours or overnight.
- Pour 3 ounces of the juice and gin mixture into coupe glasses or champagne flutes and top each glass with 2 ounces of chilled prosecco.
RECIPE VIDEO:
NOTES:
NUTRITION:
Pin Cucumber Melon Gin and Prosecco Cocktail for later!
Sensational! The very taste of summer. I did the cucumbers the same method as the cantaloupe and it was a little bit easier
Tried these last night as we just happened to have everything on hand. What a refreshingly delicious cocktail. Thank you, Lisa!