Drink This: Cucumber Lime Martini

When the sweltering heat of Sarasota summers begins to settle in, there’s no better way to cool down than with a reinvigorating cocktail. And there’s no better main ingredient to get the job done than a cucumber.

Not only are they great for your skin and low in calories — they can also be the centerpiece of a refreshing after-work beverage. Use these garden-variety vegetables to spruce up your next drink. They’re great for soaking up liquids, and when used in a drink, they’re synonymous with relaxation.

Just add your favorite vodka and a little aloe vera water, and you’ve got a spa-worthy cocktail ready to serve. All you need now is a pedicure while you relax and sip.

Matthew Serrano, general manager and bar chef at The Table Creekside and Philippi Creek Oyster Bar, shows you how to make one of your own.

Ingredients:

·         1 ½ oz. house-infused cucumber-lime vodka

·         1 oz. aloe vera water

·         ½ oz. simple syrup

·         Muddled cucumber and lime

Muddle 2 cucumber slices with ½ ounce of simple syrup and a lime wedge.

Add cucumber-lime vodka and aloe vera water.

Shake with ice and strain into martini glass.

Cucumber-Lime Vodka Infusion:

Slice one whole cucumber and cut entire rind off two limes.

Soak cucumber slices and twisted lime rinds with ½ cup brown sugar and your favorite vodka for three days in a cool, dry place.

Strain with cheese cloth and enjoy.