Buzz
Photo Credit: Victor ProtasioWhen does a cocktail feel almost like a healthy choice? It's when it's a revitalizing spritzer made with mint, lime, and cucumber. Begin by crafting a simple syrup with equal parts water, sugar, and fresh mint leaves. Afterward, blend the mint syrup with cucumber and lime juice. The strained mix is combined with club soda and gin for a light, refreshing alcoholic drink perfect for brunch. For a non-alcoholic version, swap out the gin for more club soda. Want to add a twist? Try basil leaves instead of mint for a unique flavor.
If some guests prefer their drink with alcohol and others don't, leave out the gin from the pitcher and add 2 tablespoons per glass for those who want it boozy.
Ingredients Needed
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
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2 medium English cucumbers, coarsely chopped, with extra slices for garnish
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1/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 5 limes)
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3 cups chilled club soda, plus extra for topping off
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8 oz. (1 cup) gin (optional)
Instructions
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Combine sugar, mint, and 1/2 cup of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Let it simmer, undisturbed, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
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Blend chopped cucumbers, lime juice, and the cooled mint syrup until mostly smooth, about 30 seconds. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium pitcher, pressing gently to extract the juice (avoid pushing solids through the sieve). Discard the solids.
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Add club soda and, if desired, gin. Serve the spritzer over ice, topped with additional club soda and garnished with cucumber slices and fresh mint.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
| 109 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 15g | Carbs |
| 0g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
| Calories 109 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 3mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 15g | 6% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 13g | |
| Protein 0g | 1% |
| Vitamin C 5mg | 5% |
| Calcium 25mg | 2% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 93mg | 2% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
