Cucumber Mocktail

This effervescent Cucumber Mocktail is light and refreshing. Made with citrus, soda and homemade cucumber syrup, it’s the ultimate drink for summer or any time you need a refreshing drink without the booze.

Two frosted glasses of a light-colored cocktail garnished with cucumber spirals, mint sprigs, and ice, with cucumber slices and lime wedges on the side.

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About this Cucumber Mocktail recipe

Whether you’re not drinking because you don’t or you simply just don’t want the heaviness of a cocktail, then a light and bright mocktail is the perfect remedy.

This Cucumber Mocktail is ultra-fizzy, zesty and sweet, with the coolness of fresh cucumber shining through in every sip. It tastes like fresh rain on on a warm day.

If you love the subtle, delicate flavor of cucumber, then you’re going to love this non-alcoholic drink. It’s got spa day vibes and resembles a cucumber-flavored soda, with fresh citrus showing up as the ultimate complement.

More cucumber recipes: Cucumber Agua FrescaCucumber MartiniPimm’s Cup

Why you’ll love this recipe

  1. It’s very refreshing. Cucumber Mocktails are the perfect way to cool down on a hot spring or summer day.
  2. Perfect for any occasion. Shake up one for an evening at home or serve a round at your next gathering!
  3. This recipe is simple. It doesn’t take expert mixology skills to make one of these tasty drinks!
Two glasses of a light-colored beverage with ice, garnished with cucumber slices and mint. Nearby are cucumber slices on a board and lime wedges.

Tools & glassware

For the cucumber syrup, you’ll need a grater, saucepan, spatula * and fine mesh strainer *. If you’ve made any other versions of simple syrup, you probably have all of this already!

To serve the your cucumber mocktail, a taller vessel like a highball glass * is recommended. Fill it with plenty of ice, and maybe serve it with a straw. If you want to make cucumber ribbons as a garnish, grab a vegetable peeler * and some cocktail picks.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this cucumber drink recipe. Here’s what to grab at the grocery store:

  • Cucumber syrup: This homemade sweetener takes the place of simple syrup or agave and infuses fresh cucumber flavor. You’ll need sugar, water and fresh cucumbers.
  • Lime juice AND lemon juice: I always say fresh is best, but it’s a must in this recipe! The store-bought stuff is much too tart and will overpower the cucumber.
  • Club soda: This flavorless bubbly brings its crisp texture to this drink. Be sure to refrigerate it for the best bubbles.
Two cocktails in frosted glasses, garnished with a curled cucumber slice on a skewer and mint leaves, against a light background.

Garnishes

I finished these off with cucumber garnishes and fresh mint sprigs. Cucumber ribbons may look fancy, but are really easy to make! You could also opt for cucumber slices or lime wedges as a garnish instead.

  1. First, slice a thin strip of cucumber down the long side (I use a vegetable peeler * to do this).
  2. Then, fold it gently back and forth, about 1½-inches wide, and gently pinch it to hold its shape. Secure it with a cocktail pick.
Two glasses of a light-colored beverage with ice, garnished with  mint.

Cucumber syrup

This cucumber mocktail uses a sweet cucumber simple syrup. You can make your own cucumber syrup in a few simple steps:

  1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine shredded cucumber and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, or until water has reduced by half.
  2. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer * over a bowl and discard the solids. Add sugar to the hot liquid. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Let cool completely.
  3. Transfer to a glass jar and seal tightly with a lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

How to make Cucumber Mocktails

Once you have cucumber syrup, making this cucumber lime mocktail is quick and simple — let’s get started!

Liquid being poured into an ice-filled glass from a golden jigger.
A hand pours liquid from a small gold cup into a clear glass filled with ice.

To a highball glass * filled with ice, add the lime juice and lemon juice. (Ideally, these should be fresh-squeezed!)

A hand pouring liquid from a jigger into an ice-filled glass.
Club soda being poured from a can into a glass with ice.

Next, add the cucumber syrup and top the drink with club soda. Almost there!

Leftover syrup? Try it in a cucumber margarita. You can use regular tequila or make it a mocktail with a zero-proof tequila.

A hand stirs a light-colored drink in a transparent glass with a gold spoon.
A person garnishing a frosted glass of clear drink with a cucumber slice on a spiral pick.

Then give the whole thing a gentle stir. Garnish your cucumber mocktail with mint leaves and a cucumber ribbon.

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Tips & tricks

  1. Fresh lime juice is especially important in this cucumber mocktail! The bottled stuff is too tart and overpowers the cucumber, which will result in an unbalanced (and not very tasty) drink.
  2. Stash your club soda in the fridge. The cold temperature will help it to create more of that essential fizz.
  3. Keep your citrus at room temperature — they are much easier to juice when they are warm.

Curved glass of iced clear cucumber mocktail garnished with mint. Sliced cucumbers and lime wedge nearby.

Food pairings

Serve this mocktail up with some light appetizers and snacks, like hummus and pita bread. Whipped feta dip is a summertime favorite. Bonus: You can even serve it with any leftover cucumber slices you might have, or use them to make this cucumber bruschetta.

If you’re enjoying your cucumber mocktail with a meal, choose dishes with bright, summery dishes that feature fresh flavors, like sushi or naruto rolls. Seared fish or grilled shrimp skewers would also be perfect. A side dish of mint mozzarella melon salad would round things out beautifully.

Two glasses of iced cucumber cocktails garnished with cucumber spirals and mint, next to a cutting board with cucumber slices, a knife, and lime wedges.

FAQ

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes! Whip up the syrup in advance and stash it in the fridge. You can also juice the citrus in advance, and make a base for the mocktail. Wait to add the club soda until just before serving.

How can I make it more flavorful without adding more sugar?

If you want a bolder taste without tipping the balance into overly sweet territory, you could muddle in some fresh herbs, add an ounce of a zero-proof or throw in a dash of vinegar, shrub or non-alcoholic bitters for complexity.

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Two glasses of a refreshing cocktail with ice, each garnished with a cucumber spiral and mint. Sliced cucumber and lime wedges are arranged on a wooden board nearby.

Cucumber Mocktail

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
The Cucumber Mocktail is a light and bright spring and summer cocktail. It's perfect for warm days!
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ingredients

Cucumber Syrup

Cucumber Mocktail

instructions

Cucumber Syrup

  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine shredded cucumber and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, or until water has reduced by half.
  • Strain through a fine-mesh strainer * over a bowl and discard the solids. Add sugar to the hot liquid. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Let cool completely.
  • Transfer to a glass jar and seal tightly with a lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Cucumber Mocktail

  • To a highball glass filled with ice, add cucumber syrup, lime juice and lemon juice. Stir gently.
  • Top with club soda. Garnish with mint and a cucumber ribbon.

notes

What cucumber to use? Any cucumber would work. I used 3 cocktail cucumbers, which is about the same as 1 large cucumber. Measure out the grated cucumber in cups for best results.
To make a cucumber ribbon: Slice a thin strip of cucumber down the long side. (I use a vegetable peeler.) Then fold it gently back and forth, about 1½ inches wide. Pierce with a cocktail pick.

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nutrition information

Yield: 1 drink

amount per serving:

Serving: 4ounces Calories: 214kcal Carbohydrates: 23g Protein: 0.1g Fat: 0.02g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g Sodium: 18mg Potassium: 52mg Fiber: 0.1g Sugar: 21g Vitamin A: 14IU Vitamin C: 9mg Calcium: 8mg Iron: 1mg
did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #feastandwestrecipes!

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About Susannah

Susannah Brinkley Henry is the founder of Feast + West, a cocktail blog featuring creative, budget-friendly drinks and hosting ideas. A graphic designer with bartending school training, she shares cocktails, mocktails, appetizers and desserts for easy, stylish entertaining. Her work has been featured by Southern Living, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post and Mashable, and she was a finalist in the Saveur Blog Awards. Susannah is also a publisher on MSN and has appeared on local news segments sharing seasonal drinks. She lives in Charlotte, N.C., where she brings Southern charm and global inspiration to every pour. Read more.

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