Gin Drinks – Live Laugh Love Do http://livelaughlovedo.com A Super Fun Site Fri, 08 Aug 2025 21:01:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 Refreshing Grapefruit Cucumber Cooler Recipe http://livelaughlovedo.com/hobbies-and-crafts/refreshing-grapefruit-cucumber-cooler-recipe/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/hobbies-and-crafts/refreshing-grapefruit-cucumber-cooler-recipe/#respond Fri, 08 Aug 2025 21:01:44 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/08/09/refreshing-grapefruit-cucumber-cooler-recipe/ [ad_1]

You have to try this cucumber cooler cocktail with a little bit of grapefruit mixed in. So good!

pretty pink cocktail with cucumber ribbon and grapefruit slices on rim

Summer cocktails that have a spa water vibe? Now we’re talking. Here’s a drink that will make you feel like you’re on vacation without the plane ride. It’s a tart twist on a cucumber cooler, that can be made as a cocktail or a mocktail.

Perfect for brunches spent with friends or just a summer sip out on the porch. Grab a highball glass and some fresh ingredients, here’s how to make your own grapefruit cucumber gin cooler…

single tall glass of pink cocktail with grapefruit slice and ribbon of cucumbersingle tall glass of pink cocktail with grapefruit slice and ribbon of cucumber

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces cucumber-infused gin*
  • 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
  • 2 ounces grapefruit sparkling water
  • 1/2 tsp honey (sub 1/2 tsp grenadine if you want an ombre effect)
  • 1 cucumber “twist”
  • 1 small grapefruit wedge for garnish
  • cubed ice

* For mocktails, try subbing for cucumber sparkling water like Spindrift Cucumber.

How to Make Grapefruit Cucumber Cooler

1. Mix fresh grapefruit juice, honey (if using grenadine, hold until later), and cucumber gin in a tumbler. If you plan to add cucumber sparkling water, don’t mix in tumbler to prevent leakage – you can add it after you’ve poured.

2. Before you pour, wet the inside of your glass. Wrap one ribbon of cucumber peel (the cucumber “twist”) using fingers or the back of a spoon until it is stuck to the inside of the glass.

3. Carefully pour grapefruit and gin mixture into the glass, being careful not to disturb the cucumber peel. If you are subbing the honey for grenadine, slowly add in the syrup so that is settles towards the bottom of the glass.

4. Add 3-4 ice cubes. Top off with grapefruit soda. This is also the time to add the cucumber sparkling water if you’re making a mocktail.

5. Give it a soft stir if you want, and garnish with grapefruit wedge.

tow highball glasses of pink cocktails with grapefruit and cucumberstow highball glasses of pink cocktails with grapefruit and cucumbers

More Summer Cocktails

Looking for more cocktail and mocktail ideas for summer?

pink grapefruit cocktail with cucumbers resting on palm frondpink grapefruit cocktail with cucumbers resting on palm frond

Pink grapefruit cucumber gin cooler with two glasses and slices of cucumber and grapefruitPink grapefruit cucumber gin cooler with two glasses and slices of cucumber and grapefruit

Grapefruit Cucumber Cooler

Brittni

Summer cocktails that have a spa water vibe? Now we’re talking. Here’s a drink that will make you feel like you’re on vacation without the plane ride. It’s a tart twist on a cucumber cooler, that can be made as a cocktail or a mocktail.

  • 2 ounces cucumber-infused gin* *For cocktails try subbing for cucumber sparkling water like Spindrift Cucumber.,
  • 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
  • 2 ounces grapefruit sparkling water
  • ½ tsp honey sub 1/2 tsp grenadine if you want an ombre effect
  • 1 cucumber “twist”
  • 1 small grapefruit wedge for garnish
  • cubed ice

  • Mix fresh grapefruit juice, honey (if using grenadine, hold until later), and cucumber gin in a tumbler. If you plan to add cucumber sparkling water, don’t mix in tumbler to prevent leakage – you can add it after you’ve poured.

  • Before you pour, wet the inside of your glass. Wrap one ribbon of cucumber peel (the cucumber “twist”) using fingers or the back of a spoon until it is stuck to the inside of the glass.

  • Carefully pour grapefruit and gin mixture into the glass, being careful not to disturb the cucumber peel. If you are subbing the honey for grenadine, slowly add in the syrup so that is settles towards the bottom of the glass.

  • Add 3-4 ice cubes. Top off with grapefruit soda. This is also the time to add the cucumber sparkling water if you’re making a mocktail.

  • Give it a soft stir if you want, and garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Photography Amelia Lawrence

Who’s ready for vacation after this cocktail? 

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]]> http://livelaughlovedo.com/hobbies-and-crafts/refreshing-grapefruit-cucumber-cooler-recipe/feed/ 0 Tom Collins Cocktail Recipe – Love and Lemons http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/tom-collins-cocktail-recipe-love-and-lemons/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/tom-collins-cocktail-recipe-love-and-lemons/#respond Tue, 17 Jun 2025 01:27:37 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/06/17/tom-collins-cocktail-recipe-love-and-lemons/ [ad_1]

This Tom Collins recipe is easy to make with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. Served over ice, this classic cocktail is bright and refreshing.


Tom Collins


It’s probably not surprising that I love a Tom Collins cocktail. This sparkling gin drink is only one step removed from homemade lemonade, after all.

Made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda, it’s bright, fizzy, and super refreshing. Plus, because it’s a long drink, meaning that the alcohol is mixed with a good amount of soda water, it’s not as strong as some other cocktails. This makes it perfect for sipping on a hot summer day.

If you’re new to making cocktails at home, I think this Tom Collins recipe is a great place to start. You don’t need any special equipment like a cocktail shaker or strainer, because this drink is traditionally stirred, not shaken. Plus, once you have gin and simple syrup on hand, you’ll be well on your way to making other gin cocktails too. Make this recipe first, and then add a gimlet or French 75 to your list to try next!


Gin, simple syrup, sparkling water, ice, fresh lemons, and maraschino cherries


Tom Collins Ingredients

A classic Tom Collins cocktail has 4 basic ingredients:

  • Gin – According to Difford’s Guide, the Tom Collins cocktail likely originated in London in the 1800s, and it was first made with Old Tom gin (hence the “Tom” part of its name—the “Collins” part comes from the name of the man who popularized it, John Collins). These days, London Dry gin is the common choice for this drink, but I think you can use any type with a flavor profile you love. My go-to brands are Hendrick’s, St. George Botanivore, and Koval Dry Gin.
  • Fresh lemon juice – Freshly squeezed, please! Fresh juice will give this cocktail the best, brightest flavor. Bonus: If you have fresh lemons on hand, you can garnish your glass with a lemon slice.
  • Simple syrup – For sweetness. No need to buy this—homemade simple syrup is easy to make with equal parts sugar and water.
  • Club soda or sparkling water – It adds fizz to the cocktail and dilutes it into a lower-ABV, sip-able drink.

You’ll also need ice for serving, and—if you like—a maraschino cherry (or Luxardo cherry) for garnish. Optional, but fun!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.


Tom Collins cocktail


How to Make a Tom Collins Cocktail

I think a Tom Collins is one of the easiest cocktails to make.

  • Just stir together the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a collins glass, highball glass, or other tall glass.
  • Fill the glass with ice.
  • And top with sparkling water!

Stir gently, then taste and adjust before you add your garnishes. If you want a tangier cocktail, squeeze in some extra lemon juice. For a stronger, more herbal drink, add a little extra gin. Want it sweeter? Pour in some more simple syrup.

When you love the flavor, garnish with a lemon slice and/or cocktail cherry, and enjoy!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.


Tom Collins recipe


More Cocktail Recipes to Try

If you love this Tom Collins recipe, try one of these refreshing cocktails next:

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]]> http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/tom-collins-cocktail-recipe-love-and-lemons/feed/ 0 Gimlet Cocktail – Cookie and Kate http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/gimlet-cocktail-cookie-and-kate/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/food-and-drink/gimlet-cocktail-cookie-and-kate/#respond Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:44:42 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/06/03/gimlet-cocktail-cookie-and-kate/ [ad_1]

best gimlet

The gimlet is a classic cocktail that deserves more attention! Made with gin, lime juice and sweetened with simple syrup, it comes from the sour family of cocktails (my specialty). Save the elaborate cocktails with unrecognizable ingredients for ordering at fancy bars—a simple, citrusy, not-too-sweet cocktail at home is one of life’s simple pleasures.

The gimlet is light and bright, like a more casual version of a martini that you can sip slowly on a porch. I love a gimlet in the spring or summer—they’re fresh and just right. If you enjoy ordering a good gin cocktail or a margarita made with real lime juice, you will love a homemade gimlet.

Watch How to Make a Gimlet

Gimlet Ingredients

Gimlets are shaken cocktails made with three simple ingredients: gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup. When I was a bartender after college, we served gimlets made with Rose’s sweetened lime juice, which tastes cloyingly sweet and artificial. A combination of fresh lime and simple syrup is far superior.

Some bartenders insist that gimlets must be made with homemade lime cordials, but I think a proper lime twist garnish is all you need. We all agree that gimlets must be shaken, not stirred. They’re best served ice-cold, which is why my instructions include chilling the glass before use.

The Best Gin for Gimlets

Plymouth gin is the traditional choice for a gimlet, and it’s a great one. If you’re ever bothered by the level of juniper flavor in London dry gin like Tanqueray, you’ll appreciate having Plymouth gin in your liquor cabinet. It’s less dry and more well-rounded.

I also love to use Hendrick’s gin in my gimlets. Its unique flavors of cucumber and rose petals mingle nicely with the fresh lime, which is why I used Hendrick’s in these photos.

Don’t hesitate to use London dry gin in your gimlet for good results, if that’s what you have at home. Beefeater or Fords are good options.

gimlet ingredients
how to make gimlets

Gimlet Variations

Now we’re talking! Gimlets lend themselves well to fresh additions. You can find a few of them on my blog already. Check out my Basil Gimlet, Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet and Cucumber Mint Gimlet.

Here are some options to try. You can mix them freely with great results.

Fresh basil

Try adding 8 medium basil leaves to your cocktail shaker.

Fresh mint

Add up to 10 fresh mint leaves to your shaker. This is called a Southside cocktail.

Cucumber

Add one 2-inch slice of peeled cucumber, halved and then quartered. This is called an Eastside cocktail.

Elderflower liqueur

Use St-Germain elderflower in place of the simple syrup for a delicate floral flavor. This version is called the “French Gimlet.” St-Germain is less sweet than simple syrup, so you’ll need to use just over 1 ounce of St-Germain to keep the sweetness level balanced.

Honey simple syrup

For more complex flavors, use the same amount of honey simple syrup as you would regular simple syrup. Choose a light-colored honey, like clover or orange blossom honey, for lovely floral flavors.

This version reminds me of the Bee’s Knees, a similar cocktail made with gin, lemon instead of lime, and honey simple syrup.

pouring a gimlet

More Cocktails to Try

More Classic Gin Cocktails

I love a good gin cocktail. Here are a few more to check out:

More Citrusy Cocktails

These cocktails hail from the sour family like the gimlet:

Please let me know how your gimlet turns out in the comments. I love hearing from you and hope the gimlets are a hit at your next dinner party.

gimlet recipe


Print

Gimlet Cocktail

The gimlet cocktail is a delightful combination of gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup, served up with a twist of lime. Recipe yields 1 drink; you can mix up to 3 in a standard cocktail shaker at once. 

  1. Chill your coupe glass by filling it to the brim with ice and water. Set it aside while you prepare the cocktail. 
  2. Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the gin, lime juice and simple syrup. Securely fasten the lid and shake the mixture for about 20 seconds, or until the outside of the shaker is absolutely ice cold.
  3. Discard the ice water in your glass and gently shake out any stubborn water droplets. Strain the mixture into your prepared glass. Gently twist the lime peel over the drink to release the oils, then lightly draw it over the rim of the glass before dropping it in. Enjoy.

Notes

*To make simple syrup: Combine equal parts sugar (or honey) and water in a small saucepan or in a microwave-safe bowl. Warm over medium heat or in 30-second bursts in the microwave, whisking occasionally, just until the sweetener has fully dissolved into the water. Set it aside to cool before using. Leftover simple syrup will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 month. 

Gin recommendations: Plymouth gin is the most authentic choice and yields a great gimlet. I love Hendrick’s for its cucumber and floral notes. You could also use a London dry gin, like Beefeater or Fords.

Measurement tips: Two ounces is ¼ cup, 1 ounce is 2 tablespoons, and ½ ounce is 1 tablespoon.

Nutrition

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

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