The summer is quickly slipping away form us, but there is still some sunshine and heat to be enjoyed over the next few days, so why not mix up one last summer cocktail and delight in a quiet cheers to another beautiful season.
I love sours, their my favourite kind of cocktail - it's Caitlin here. I also happen to think that Hendricks gin and cucumbers are a match made in heaven. If you don't have Hendricks, don't worry about it any kind of gin will do. If you don't have St Germain, you should probably get some. There is nothing else quite like it and it's also excellent in sparkling wine, prosecco, cava, and champagne. But if you really wanted to skip it, simply increase the gin by 1/2 an oz (to 1 1/2 oz) and increase the simple syrup by a 1/4 oz (to 1 oz).
Now, about that egg white. I'd really like you to give it a go! I know it sound a little strange and also kind of icky, putting raw egg whites in your cocktail and all, but the thing is that it's 100% safe and if you were at a fancy cocktail bar you wouldn't even know they put it in there. You'd just sip away at your curiously frothy libation, wondering how they managed to get it that way. Live on the wild side, try something new!!
Cucumber Sour
simple syrup
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
cocktail
1/2 cup unpeeled seeded diced cucumber
1 oz Hendricks Gin
1/2 oz St Germain elder flower liqueur
1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1 egg white
3/4 oz simple syrup
3 dashes lavender bitters (optional)
1 long thin cucumber slice, for garnish (optional)
simple syrup
In a small pot over high heat, bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely. Refrigerate any leftover syrup
cocktail
Swirl the cucumber slice around the inside edge of a cocktail glass and pop in the freezer and leave there until well chilled.
Muddle (mash up) the cucumber in a cocktail shaker until well crushed. Add the gin, elder flower liqueur, lime juice, egg white, and simple syrup, and dry shake (this means with no ice) for 15 seconds. Add ice (5-6 cubes) and shake again for 10-15 seconds. Double strain (pass through a fine mesh strainer at least once, maybe twice) the mixture into your chilled glass and finish with three drops of bitters on top.