Guest Post: Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojitos by Justine Celina
So now, onto this cocktail. It’s funny — I haven’t always been a gin fan. In fact, I’ve only come to enjoy the taste of gin this summer. When I was a teenager, my Mom’s drink of choice was a simple gin and tonic. Well, it turns out that a gin and tonic on the rocks and a glass of ice water look exactly the same — that is until you gulp it down, only to realize that your ice water is actually your Mom’s gin and tonic! We had a few good laughs and eventually stopped using the same glasses, but needless to say I’ve only recently acquired a taste for gin as an adult.
This recipe came about organically, as most of my recipes do. During my last visit to my childhood home in rural Alberta this summer, I volunteered as bartender. My Mom, of course, requested a gin cocktail. She knows I love to experiment with cocktails and usually enjoys whatever I whip up, so I happily went to work. In the fridge, I found lots of fresh lemons, along with a gorgeous bunch of mint and some cucumbers. I immediately thought of a gin based, mojito-style cocktail. There were also some fresh blueberries set out for snacking right next to where I was playing mixologist, so I decided to muddle a few in with the other ingredients. I took a sip to test my creation and I was shocked at how much I liked it — gin and all! So, I decided to make one for myself with a few tweaks and that was how this Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojito recipe was conceived.
I’ve been blueberry crazy this summer! We’re coming to the end of blueberry season in North America and I’ve been experimenting with different ways to preserve them to make the magic last. What I came up with is a blueberry simple syrup made from honey, rather that traditional white sugar. I’m all about making healthier, more natural substitutions in my cooking and baking — and yes, even in my cocktails. To be honest, we don’t even keep white sugar in our pantry! My Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup adds so much flavour and a lovely purple hue to these cocktails.
My Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojitos combine sweet blueberries with refreshing lemon, cucumber and mint. A healthy dose of gin unites the flavour profiles of these late summer sippers and a splash of soda water adds just the right amount of sparkle. My gin mojitos are free of refined sugars and made with all natural ingredients — so the next time you’re craving a cooling summer cocktail, indulge yourself with a fresh twist on the classic mojito!
Another thing I like to do is incorporate edible flowers into my recipes whenever I can — I’m enamoured with flowers and blog about them frequently! I foraged these pansies from my Mom’s garden and love the fun pops of colour and cheerful feeling they add to the cocktail. If you want to get creative and make these Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojitos really pretty, you can experiment with freezing edible flowers into ice cubes to preserve them, or simply use them to garnish your cocktail. Flowers (edible or otherwise) are an inexpensive, thoughtful way to elevate your libations or parties — and they’re one of my not so secret weapons, especially when I’m entertaining.
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Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojitos
Ingredients
For the Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup4 cups fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey
- Juice from half a lemon
For the Blueberry, Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojito1.5oz Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup
- 2 oz of gin
- Juice from half a lemon
- 5 leaves fresh mint
- 5 slices of cucumber
- Soda water
- Ice
Optional GarnishEdible flowers (I used pansies)
- Cocktail skewers
- slice A of lemon
- Fresh blueberries
- A sprig of mint
Instructions
- If you’re making floral ice cubes, begin by sourcing your flowers, washing them and dropping them into the ice cube trays to freeze. You really can’t mess this up — so experiment with different flower place- ments within each cube and have fun with it!
- Start on your Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup. Add blueberries and water to a medium sauce pan over low heat. The blueberries will begin to break down quickly — help them along by pressing them with a potato masher to aid in extracting the juices. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Strain the blueberry juice into a heatproof bowl, using the potato masher press the juice through the strainer. Reserve the juice for the Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup and discard the skins.
- Add the blueberry juice and honey back to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and allow to thicken for 10 minutes.
- Turn off the burner. Add the juice from half a lemon to your saucepan, stirring until incorporated. Allow your Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup to cool before using it in the Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojitos.
- Begin assembling your cocktail by adding lemon juice, mint and cucumber to a cocktail shaker and muddling them together with a pestle. Add Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup and a few ice cubes. Shake vigorously until the cocktail shaker becomes cold.
- Add the contents of the cocktail shaker to your glass along with your gin. Pour soda water overtop to fill your glass to the desired level.
- Garnish your Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojito with a slice of lemon and a few blueberries on a cocktail skewer.
- Add a sprig of mint, or a few more edible flowers and enjoy!
19 Comments on “Guest Post: Blueberry Lemon and Cucumber Gin Mojitos by Justine Celina”
My wife would absolutely love this drink! Awesome flavors and was awesome! Thank you for the awesome recipe!!
The colour of these drinks is gorgeous and they sound delicious, too. I especially love the sweet pansy ice cubes – a pretty touch.
Thanks so much, Teresa! I appreciate your comment and feedback. :)
I love gin but, like you, I wasn’t a fan when I was younger. Now gin is my favourite and, when I go out, I only pick the cocktails with it. Funny how our tastebuds change!
I’m totally on the gin now, Janice! It’s so funny that you mention being drawn to gin cocktails when you’re out, because they’ve really appealing to me this summer too! Cheers.
That is a GORGEOUS drink! I would love to do something like this for when I host my annual mothers day brunch, so pretty!
Thanks, Melissa! These would be a fantastic Mother’s Day brunch cocktail — you could even reduce the gin to 1 oz (or not — I’m certainly not going to judge you, haha!). Cheers!
Melissa, this would make a perfect Mother’s Day brunch cocktail — you could even reduce the amount of gin to 1oz (or not — I’m certainly not going to judge you!). ;) Cheers!
Justine, you never fail to impress (and Dana – great job on the collab)! It’s a gorgeous drink, and I’m picturing just how wonderful the flavours would be together. You’ve got a real mixological (is that a word?) touch. I too am a big gin fan (especially when the botanicals get on the creative side). Gin and blueberries are a great combination, not only because of their flavour, but because of the complimentary nature of their biochemistry – gin has terpenoid compounds that amplify some of those fleeting raw blueberry flavours that are so difficult to capture. ANYWAY, nerd nerd nerd, but it’s called mixology right? It’s fun to put the ‘ology’ in there! Cheers!!
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment, Sean! I remember you mentioned how complimentary blueberries and gin are — thanks for helping to educate Dana’s readers about mixology. Admittedly, it’s not something I know a lot about myself — I just know when something works! ;) Did you mention a book you like to learn more? If not, do you have one? I’d love to learn more, as well as explore some more artisinal gin. Any recommendations appreciated, my friend. Cheers!
Summer in a glass! That ice looks sublime! Pinning this to impress my guests some day!
Thanks, Simon. The floral ice cubes are so simple to create and definitely bring the WOW factor. They’re also a great way to preserve summer blooms for the cooler months. Cheers!
Further proof that inspiration for some of the great cocktail creations come from what you find available around you. Love the purple hue. Cheers!
So true, isn’t it?! Cheers!
OH MY – those photos are beyond mouthwatering and that drink needs to happen…STAT!
Thank you so much, Jacquee! Please report back if you try them!
Hey Justine!! Nice to see you over here at Killing Thyme! These are so stunningly beautiful….I know what I am drinking this weekend!!
Thanks, Koko! If you try them I’d love your feedback. I still have some of this Blueberry Honey Simple Syrup so I may whip another batch up myself. Cheers!
Dana, thank you so much for this guest posting opportunity! I’m so glad we’ve been able to connect through FBC. Thanks for being a great blogging chum and oneof my biggest cheerleaders! I look forward to more collaborative work in the future. Cheers, girl!