Cucumber adds a crisp, refreshing note to the classic Gin Fizz, along with basil, mint, and elderflower liqueur for a botanical twist. This is the perfect classy cocktail for warm evenings - brightly-flavored, cold, and bubbly, and neither overly strong nor overly sweet.

Quick Note: This is an updated version of a post that originally appeared on Bright-Eyed Baker in 2015. Updates include new text and photos; the recipe is unchanged!

Front view of two gin fizz cocktails with lemon wedges, basil leaves, cucumber soda, and elderflower liqueur in the background.

This is one of those recipes that's truly hard to give a proper name. It's a cucumber gin fizz, but it's also an elderflower gin fizz, and you could definitely make an argument for calling it a Tom Collins as well. But it's really not as simple as any of those names might imply (there's mint and basil in the mix too), so maybe we should just call it a gin cocktail? Although it may sound like there's a lot happening in one drink, one sip will make you understand that these flavors are clearly meant to be together.

This is the kind of cocktail you'd expect to find at an upscale bar - and that's precisely where I found the inspiration for it. The ingredients are somewhat unconventional, the flavor is unlike any specific cocktail you've probably ever had before, the presentation is (of course) classy, and together it all just magically works.

Jump to:

What is a Gin Fizz?
Gin Fizz vs Tom Collins
Tools needed
Ingredients & Instructions
Tasting Notes
More cocktail recipes
Recipe Card

What is a Gin Fizz?

So let's break down some names here, shall we? A Gin Fizz is a cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup (or another sweetener), and club soda. It's typically made in a cocktail shaker, shaken with ice, and strained into a highball glass. The shaking action combined with the club soda makes it fizzy, hence the name Gin Fizz.

This recipe basically checks off all of those boxes, but with a bit of a twist. Instead of simple syrup, it uses elderflower liqueur, and instead of club soda, it uses cucumber soda. It is shaken with ice, but it's also served over ice, so we're breaking the rules here a little bit.

Gin fizz cocktail garnished with a cucumber ribbon and lemon wedge against a grey backdrop.

Gin Fizz vs Tom Collins

Here comes the confusing part; differentiating a Gin Fizz from a Tom Collins. Both drinks contain the same ingredients, but the common consensus is that a Tom Collins is assembled directly in a serving glass filled with ice (no shaking involved), making it not quite as fizzy. A Tom Collins is also typically served in a larger glass than a Gin Fizz (12-16 oz vs 8 oz). Most sources note that these days the two names are used fairly interchangeably. Like a Tom Collins, this drink is served over ice in a 12 oz glass, so in this case either name is (at least partially!) correct.

Two gin fizz cocktails served with cucumber ribbons, a lemon wedge, and a sprig of basil.

Tools needed

You'll need three basic tools to make this drink - all of which are good essentials to have on hand for any level of a home bar setup:

- cocktail shaker

- strainer

- muddler

You can even combine the first two with a shaker like this.

Also nice to have, but technically not required:

- jigger (great for measuring standard, small amounts of liquid for cocktails)

- citrus squeezer (helps to get the most juice out of your citrus as possible)

Process shot of liquid being poured out of a cocktail shaker into a highball glass filled with ice and a cucumber ribbon.

Ingredients & Instructions

You'll need:

- freshly-squeezed lemon juice (or lime if you want to switch things up)

- sliced cucumber

- spearmint & basil leaves

- gin

- elderflower liqueur (This contributes most of the sweetness to the drink instead of using simple syrup. Saint Germain is arguably the most common and widely available brand, but I've also used Thatcher's.)

- dry cucumber soda (I like the DRY Soda brand, which is easy to find in most grocery stores.)

...and (obviously) ice

And to make the cocktail:

Start out by combining the lemon/lime juice, sliced cucumber, and mint/basil leaves in a cocktail shaker. Muddle them together, and then add the gin, elderflower liqueur, and ice. Shake well, pour over ice in a highball glass, and top with cucumber soda. If you're feeling fancy (and I highly encourage it), garnish with a cucumber ribbon, a sprig of mint or basil, a lemon wedge, or any combination of the three.

Process shot of cucumber soda being poured into a gin fizz, with lemon wedges and a sprig of basil in the background.

Tasting Notes

If summer called for a drink, it would be this cucumber gin fizz; it's bright, crisp, bubbly, and refreshing. The flavor is a mix of cool, clean cucumber and mint, bold and vibrant lemon and basil, and delicately sweet, floral elderflower and gin. Together they make a drink that's fresh and light, botanically-leaning, and easy-sipping.

More cocktail recipes

While you've got your shaker out, here are a few more cocktail recipes you can try!

Honey-Lemon Gin Rickey: In all honesty this drink is probably more Gin Fizz or Tom Collins than it is Gin Rickey, but regardless it's another perfect drink for warm afternoons. It's tart and refreshing, and lightly sweetened with honey to make it softly floral as well.

Cucumber Moscow Mule: This one doesn't need much explanation. If you're as big a fan of cucumber in cocktails as I am, it's worth trying!

The Half Windsor: If you're not a fan of gin, here's a vodka based cocktail that's equally refreshing. It's made with cucumber and mint, and sweetened with agave. Also unconventional; also delicious!

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