Drinks cocktail summer elderflower low-calorie

Cucumber Gin Fizz

Name: Cucumber Gin Fizz
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 large English cucumber (ripe, sliced; reserve a ribbon for garnish); 2 oz Fresh lime juice; 1 oz Simple syrup (1:1) or light agave syrup; 6 oz Gin; 2 oz Elderflower liqueur (St‑Germain) or elderflower cordial; 12 oz Club soda (chilled); 2 cups Ice; 4 sprigs Fresh mint sprigs (for garnish)

A spa-like summer spritz: bright cucumber, floral elderflower, and zesty lime meet crisp gin and soda for a light, refreshing cocktail. Low-calorie and effervescent, this Cucumber Gin Fizz is perfect for patio afternoons or an elegant aperitif.

0.0(0 reviews)

Prep: 10m · Cook: 0m · Total10 mins

DifficultyEasy

Serves4

AuthorJake

Ingredient Spotlight

English cucumber (ripe, sliced; reserve a ribbon for garnish)

A long, thin cucumber variety often labeled English, European, or hothouse; it has thinner skin, smaller seeds and a milder, crisper flavor than common slicing cucumbers. It’s widely available in many U.S. grocery stores but may be called Persian cucumber in some markets. If you can’t find one, substitute with a Persian cucumber or a regular cucumber with the seeds scooped out for less bitterness.

Ingredient Spotlight

Simple syrup (1:1) or light agave syrup

Simple syrup is equal parts granulated sugar and water dissolved into a thin liquid; light agave syrup (agave nectar) is a sweet syrup from the Mexican agave plant that’s thinner and sweeter than honey with a neutral flavor. Agave is sold in most supermarkets and natural-food stores and is often used as a vegan/low-glycemic alternative to sugar. Substitute agave with simple syrup (on a 1:1 basis but use slightly less agave because it’s sweeter), honey, or a mild corn syrup, adjusting to taste.

Ingredient Spotlight

Elderflower liqueur (St‑Germain) or elderflower cordial

Elderflower liqueur (St‑Germain is a well-known French brand) is made from the blossoms of the elder tree; it has a fragrant, floral, lightly sweet and slightly fruity profile and is popular in cocktails. Elderflower cordial is the nonalcoholic syrup version used to add the same floral note. Find the liqueur at liquor stores and the cordial at specialty or online retailers; you can substitute with elderflower cordial for a nonalcoholic option or approximate the flavor with simple syrup plus a few drops of orange blossom water or a mild floral syrup.

Jake's note

"I love how this drink feels like a mini spa treatment in a glass — cooling cucumber and delicate elderflower make it unexpectedly elegant. It’s a go-to for warm nights when you want something bright, light, and effortless."

Cucumber Gin Fizz

Think of this Cucumber Gin Fizz as a small cool-down in a glass: the bright green, watery crunch of English cucumber, the zippy, clarifying citrus of fresh lime, and the soft floral lift of elderflower all play off a clean botanical gin to create an effervescent, low-calorie spritz. The technique — blitzing or muddling raw cucumber with lime and a touch of simple syrup, then straining — gives you a whisper of vegetal perfume without the pulpy grit, while the quick shake with ice brings the flavors into focus before the soda adds a lively, refreshing lift.

This version works because of balance and restraint: use a mild, seedless English cucumber to avoid bitterness; choose a lighter hand with sweetener so the delicate elderflower sings; and always top with chilled soda at the end so the fizz remains crisp. It’s ideal for patio afternoons, an elegant pre-dinner aperitif, or a brunch where guests want something light and aromatic rather than boozy. Garnishes are simple but intentional — a cucumber ribbon and a mint sprig give first impressions of cool and fragrant that match the first sip.

Plan your timing

Enter your target meal time:

6:45 pm–6:47 pm→Release the cucumber juice

6:47 pm–6:49 pm→Build the cocktail

6:49 pm–6:51 pm→Chill with ice

6:51 pm–6:53 pm→Strain and top with soda

6:53 pm–6:55 pm→Garnish and serve

Ingredients

Yield

Instructions

Release the cucumber juice

Slice the cucumber and add the pieces to a cocktail shaker or bowl. Add the fresh lime juice and simple syrup, then muddle or blitz with an immersion blender until the cucumber is well broken down and fragrant. Let the mixture rest a minute so the flavors meld, then strain through a fine mesh sieve into the shaker, pressing to extract as much juice as possible; discard the pulp or save for another use.

For this step

1 largeEnglish cucumber (ripe, sliced; reserve a ribbon for garnish)
2 ozFresh lime juice
1 ozSimple syrup (1:1) or light agave syrup

Build the cocktail

Into the strained cucumber-lime syrup in the shaker, pour the gin and elderflower liqueur or cordial. Give the mixture a gentle stir to combine — you want the floral notes to marry with the cucumber before chilling.

For this step

6 ozGin
2 ozElderflower liqueur (St‑Germain) or elderflower cordial

Chill with ice

Add plenty of ice to the shaker, cap it, and shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels icy cold. This quick shake brightens the flavors and chills the mix without over-diluting the delicate elderflower.

For this step

2 cupsIce

Strain and top with soda

Strain the shaken cocktail evenly into four glasses filled with fresh ice. Top each glass with chilled club soda (about 3 oz / 90 ml per serving) to give the drink a lively fizz, then gently stir once to integrate.

For this step

12 ozClub soda (chilled)
4 sprigsFresh mint sprigs (for garnish)

Garnish and serve

Thread a long cucumber ribbon onto a mint sprig or gently twist it into the glass and tuck a mint sprig alongside. Serve immediately — the fizz is part of the charm, and that cool cucumber aroma is the first thing your guests will notice.

Tips from the kitchen

Pick English cucumber

Their thin skin and small seeds give cleaner juice and less bitterness; if using garden cucumbers, peel and deseed before using.

Muddle versus blitz

Muddling by hand releases subtle cucumber oils; an immersion blender gives more juice and a brighter color—either works, just strain thoroughly for clarity.

Press the pulp

After straining, press the solids against the sieve with the back of a spoon to extract maximum juice and aroma without pulp.

Shake briefly

Shake 10–12 seconds with ice to chill and dilute slightly—over-shaking will water down the delicate elderflower notes.

Add soda last

Pour club soda over the already strained cocktail to preserve carbonation and give each glass a lively effervescence.

Variations & substitutions

Alcohol-free mocktail

Omit the gin and replace it with chilled green tea or cucumber water plus a nonalcoholic botanical spirit or extra elderflower cordial; keep the soda for fizz.

Sparkling wine upgrade

Swap club soda for prosecco or cava to make a more celebratory spritz—use less elderflower liqueur to avoid cloying sweetness.

Herbal twist

Muddle a few basil leaves with the cucumber for a sweet-herbaceous edge, or substitute mint for basil for a brighter finish.

Lower-sugar option

Use light agave or reduce simple syrup to 1/2 ounce per 2-ounce lime if using elderflower liqueur, since many cordials/liqueurs are already sweet.

Storage & make-ahead

You can make the strained cucumber-lime base (without gin or soda) up to 24 hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator; it will keep its brightness briefly but will lose some fresh aroma after a day. Do not mix in soda ahead of time — add chilled club soda just before serving to retain fizz. There is no reheating; serve cold over fresh ice.

What to serve with it

Serve in tall Collins or highball glasses over fresh ice with a long cucumber ribbon and mint sprig for aroma. Pair with light bites like goat-cheese crostini, smoked salmon canapés, chilled shrimp, or a chilled cucumber and dill salad to echo the drink’s herbal-citrus profile. For a sunny brunch, offer alongside a platter of fresh fruit and ricotta toast.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a regular cucumber instead of English cucumber?

Yes, but peel and scoop out the seeds first because standard slicing cucumbers can be bitter and seedy; English (seedless) cucumbers give a cleaner, more delicate juice.

Should I use elderflower liqueur or cordial?

Liqueur (like St‑Germain) adds alcohol and sweetness, while cordial is nonalcoholic and often sweeter; if using cordial reduce the simple syrup, and if using liqueur you may want to cut back on added sweetener.

How do I prevent the drink from becoming watery?

Strain well and only shake briefly — over-dilution happens when you use too much ice time; add soda at the last moment and serve immediately to keep the fizz alive.

Can I make this recipe for a large crowd?

Yes — scale the cucumber-lime base and elderflower proportionally and keep it chilled; add gin and soda to each pitcher or glass just before serving to preserve effervescence.

What’s the best way to get a clear, pulp-free drink?

After muddling or blitzing, pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a nut-milk bag and press gently to extract juice without pushing solids through.

About the author

Jake

Hello, I'm Jake. I started this recipe site with the idea that I hated recipe websites that overwhelm you with long stories and ads just to see plain content that's not helpful. My goal is to provide you with quality recipes, simple ideas and a fun cooking experience. There's lots of fun things to cook, and I think as you browse the site you'll find that TopShelf.Recipes is the place for quality recipes on the web.

See all recipes by Jake →

Ratings & Reviews

Did you make this recipe?

Be the first to share your experience.

Ingredients

4 servings

Step 1: Release the cucumber juice

English cucumber (ripe, sliced; reserve a ribbon for garnish)1 large
Fresh lime juice2 oz
Simple syrup (1:1) or light agave syrup1 oz

Step 2: Build the cocktail

Gin6 oz
Elderflower liqueur (St‑Germain) or elderflower cordial2 oz

Step 3: Chill with ice

Ice2 cups

Step 4: Strain and top with soda

Club soda (chilled)12 oz
Fresh mint sprigs (for garnish)4 sprigs

Nutrition Facts

Per serving: 1 cocktail (290g)

Calories208

Total Fat0.1g

Saturated Fat0g

Trans Fat0g

Polyunsaturated Fat0g

Monounsaturated Fat0g

Total Carbohydrates14g

Dietary Fiber0.1g

Total Sugars11.7g

Protein0.1g

Nutrition values are estimated from USDA ingredient data and may vary based on preparation, brands, and portion sizes. Values are provided for informational purposes only.

Keep Reading

Guides & articles for this recipe

All articles →

Guides

Trending Grillside Drinks for 2026: Cocktails, Low‑ABV Sippers, and Non‑Alcoholic Pairings to Elevate Backyard BBQ

Discover the hottest drinks to serve alongside summer grilling in 2026 — from smoked‑syrup cocktails and barrel‑aged RTDs to low‑ABV spritzes, shrubs, kombuchas, and tea blends. Includes batch-making tips, safety notes, and pairing suggestions for common grilled proteins and sides.

Recipes

Blue Drinks at Home: Natural Color Techniques + 10 Viral Blue Cocktail & Mocktail Recipes

Discover how to make stunning blue drinks at home using natural ingredients like butterfly pea and blue spirulina. This guide includes practical techniques, storage tips, and 10 viral cocktail and mocktail recipes — many with grilled-garnish ideas for backyard entertaining.

Tips & Techniques

Seasonal Flavor Framework

A practical guide to composing balanced late-summer plates by pairing charred proteins, smoky accents, bright quick pickles, fresh herbs, and crunchy textures. Includes short technique boxes (quick pickles, finishing oils, compound butters) and clear timing notes so readers can mix-and-match market produce into satisfying meals.