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Garlic & Zest

Gourmet Cooking at Home!

Cucumber Pioneer and Other Craft Cocktails

Cucumber Pioneer and Other Craft Cocktails
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Late this summer, I was invited by Shaina Wizov of Take A Bite Out Of Boca fame to spend an afternoon at Max’s Harvest, a fabulous Farm to Fork restaurant in Delray Beach, learning from the pros what it takes to make a real craft cocktail.  It was such a fun experience — one I had planned to tell you about as soon as my buzz wore off, but the website redesign (and subsequent delays) took precedence and this is the first opportunity I’ve had to share with you.

photo of bar and shaker at Max's Harvest

Scott and I have eaten at Max’s Harvest on several occasions and we’ve never been disappointed.  Their menu is always evolving according to the seasons, the fare is inventive, yet relatable — and always satisfying!  But I have to admit, I usually just order a glass of wine to sip before dinner.  The cocktails always sound interesting to me, but I’m not a fru-fru drink girl and I usually play it safe with a glass of vino.  Therefore, I was equal parts excited and ambivalent about this “spirited” tutorial.  Excited to learn from the pros, ambivalent because I’m not into cotton candy martinis.
Appetizers at Max's Harvest

Before the libations even began, our hosts brought out some yummy nibbles to line our stomachs before the sipping ensued.  Then our group got a tour around the bar — introducing us to the tools of the trade.   Jiggers for precision measuring and muddlers for bruising/mashing.  Various types of cocktail shakers and long-handled bar spoons.
Barware

And so many types of glasses.  An old-fashioned or rocks glass for things like Scotch and Old-Fashioneds and  highball glasses – for drinks with a higher ratio of mixer to alcohol.  Stemware, like martini glasses and coupes are meant to keep warm hands away from the cool/cold liquids.  Copper mugs which act as an effective insulator for both cold drinks and  hot,  keeping the contents at the desired temperature longer than other vessels.
A stocked bar

At Max’s Harvest, they use high-end libations, liquors made in small-batches from artisan distillers, house-made mix-ins and only the freshest juices. A real cocktail involves real juice — not lime squeezed from a plastic lookalike form and a good citrus juicer is paramount for that.   A good strainer is the right tool to remove errant seeds or pulp from the fresh-squeezed juice.   The bartenders explained how they juice most everything themselves so that each cocktail is distinctive and fresh — not cloyingly sweet.  (I like that!)

 

Cocktail with flowercocktail with melon garnishcocktail with orange peelcucumber pioneer from the bar

Our sampling this day included a French 75 (with St. Augustine Gin, house-made cherry compote, lemon juice and rosewater), a Pimms Cup (with Pimms No. 1, fresh lemonade, ginger-ale and seasonal fruit garnish) an Old-Fashioned (with Michter’s Bourbon, demerara sugar cubes, and bitters) and a Cucumber Pioneer (with Hangar One Vodka, Canton, agave, mint leaves and ginger beer).

 

making cucumber juiceI wanted to try my hand at one of these  cocktails at home and decided that the Cucumber Pioneer was my personal favorite — the flavor is dominated by ginger with a soft cucumber finish — and that lovely green color was so fresh!  I started with the cucumber juice, made by pureeing the cucumber and straining the juice from the pulp.

 

Cucumber Pioneer and Other Craft Cocktails | Garlic & Zest mixing the Cucumber Pioneer

Then I filled the metal part of a cocktail shaker with ice and measured out the liquor and juices into the glass portion.  I confess, this drink called for Canton (a ginger liquor).  I wanted to use it, but I just couldn’t rationalize the $39 price tag for the quarter ounce of liquor the recipe called for.  I skipped it.

 

adding ginger beer to the Cucumber Pioneer

But I did use a really spicy ginger beer to top off the drinks before garnishing with fresh cucumber slices and mint leaves.  I’m afraid that glass of wine doesn’t stand a chance with me before dinner now that I’ve stepped up my cocktail game!  Cheers!

Cucumber Pioneer and Other Craft Cocktails | Garlic & Zest Cucumber Pioneer and Other Craft Cocktails | Garlic & Zest Cucumber Pioneer and Other Craft Cocktails with mint leaves

 

Cucumber Pioneer and Other Craft Cocktails
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5 from 1 vote

Cucumber Pioneer

A not-too-sweet summer sipper!
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword cocktail, cucumber
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 208kcal

Ingredients

For Cucumber Juice

  • 1 English cucumber makes about 1 - 1 1/2 cups of juice, depending on the size of the cucumber

For Each Cocktail

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka I used Hangar One
  • 1/4 ounce ginger liquor such as Canton, optional
  • 1 1/2 ounces cucumber juice
  • 1 teaspoon agave
  • 5 mint leaves plus extra for garnish
  • 1 1/2 ounces ginger beer
  • cucumber thinly sliced for garnish

Instructions

Make the cucumber juice

  • If you have a juicer, use it to make the juice, otherwise, roughly chop the cucumber and transfer it to a blender or food processor and pulse until it's completely liquified. Place a fine mesh strainer over a glass measuring cup and pour the cucumber juice through the strainer to remove the solids.
  • It's recommended to use a Boston Cocktail Shaker, but if you don't have one, mix the ingredients in a glass.
  • In the mixing glass, combine the vodka, ginger liquor, cucumber juice, mint leaves and agave. Fill the tumbler with ice. Pour the liquid over the ice. Secure the glass in the tumbler and shake 4-5 times until cold and frothy. Pour into glasses and top with ginger beer, additional mint leaves and cucumber slices for garnish. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 441mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 530IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1.1mg

More Cocktail Nirvana:

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Spicy Cucumber Kiwi Margaritas

Cucumber Pioneer | Garlic & Zest
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Beverages// Boozy Drinks15 Comments

« Grilled Summer Salad with Lime Dressing
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Comments

  1. Maggi Calder says

    September 22, 2016 at 10:02 PM

    Definitely making this tomorrow night! It sounds amazing as does the class!!! Thanks for sharing:-)

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      September 23, 2016 at 7:24 AM

      Let me know how you like it Maggi! Gotta check out Max’s Harvest, too!

      Reply
  2. Heidy L. McCallum says

    September 19, 2016 at 8:47 PM

    Your Cucumber Pioneer and Other Craft Cocktails look amazing! I am enjoying all the hip cocktail recipes and taking notes for my next adult party. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      September 20, 2016 at 7:03 AM

      Sometimes you just have to step up your cocktail game, right?

      Reply
  3. Everyday Sarah Jane says

    September 19, 2016 at 8:41 PM

    An afternoon at a delicious restaurant learning how to make wonderful cocktails sounds amazing…as does this Cucumber Pioneer!! I’ll have to try it ASAP 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      September 20, 2016 at 7:02 AM

      Definitely! Let me know what you think!

      Reply
  4. Kristine says

    September 19, 2016 at 7:53 PM

    Oh my gosh, this is so pretty and I love anything with cucumber! I can’t wait try one of these!

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com says

    September 19, 2016 at 7:33 PM

    Wow, this sounds incredible! What a fun event–and it’s cool that you left so inspired to make these drinks yourself!

    Reply
  6. CC says

    September 19, 2016 at 7:22 PM

    Good call on the ginger beer substitution!! Makes this cocktail more accessible to the general public! 😉 Great post!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      September 20, 2016 at 7:02 AM

      Thanks, CC! The ginger beer adds great fizz and spice!

      Reply
  7. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says

    September 19, 2016 at 10:46 AM

    I absolutely love cucumber in cocktails – this would be so great and refreshing for a sunny day!

    Reply
  8. Ali @ Home & Plate says

    September 19, 2016 at 10:42 AM

    I’m coming to your house for cocktails. I’ve never made my own cucumber juice but imagine the flavor is so fresh and intense. This sounds wonderful and refreshing!

    Reply
  9. Amy says

    September 19, 2016 at 10:19 AM

    I am obsessed with cucumber lately and the flavors in this drink sound delicious!

    Reply
  10. Catherine says

    September 19, 2016 at 9:37 AM

    Looks like a great place and I love this cocktail. The cucumber is a refreshing twist!

    Reply
  11. Tracy | Baking Mischief says

    September 19, 2016 at 9:35 AM

    Such a pretty cocktail! I love that green color, and cucumber is such a fabulous flavor in drinks. I bet this is delish!

    Reply

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Lisa

Calling all cooks! You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to get a delicious, healthy meal on the table! At Garlic & Zest, I’ll show you how to make hundreds of seasonal, fresh recipes and indulgent comfort foods with easy step-by-step instructions and photos to help you master the dish.

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