Garden Gate Spritz
A drink that tastes like a cool evening, which is exactly what you want to hand someone at the door. Cucumber and elderflower are a gentle pair, and a spritz means no shaker and no fuss while the roast rests. Serve it with prosecco and elderflower liqueur, or with cordial and sparkling water for guests who are not drinking.
What you'll need
- 4 thin cucumber slices
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice (15 ml)
- 1.5 oz elderflower liqueur, or 1 oz elderflower cordial for the alcohol-free glass (45 ml)
- 3 oz dry prosecco, or sparkling water (90 ml)
- 2 oz sparkling water (60 ml)
- cucumber ribbon and mint
- 1.5 English cucumbers, sliced
- 0.5 cup lime juice (120 ml)
- 1.5 cups elderflower liqueur, or 1 cup cordial (360 ml)
- 1 bottle prosecco, or 3 cups sparkling water (750 ml)
How to make it
Gently press the cucumber slices with the lime juice in the bottom of a glass.
Add the elderflower, fill with ice, then add the prosecco or sparkling water.
Top with the extra sparkling water, stir once, and add the ribbon and mint.
Glass: Wine glass over ice. Garnish: A long cucumber ribbon and a mint sprig.
Chef's secrets
Elderflower liqueur is sweet; cordial is sweeter still, so use less.
Peel a cucumber ribbon with a vegetable peeler.
Good to know
For the pitcher, muddle the cucumber with the lime and elderflower an hour ahead and chill, then add the bubbles at the table.