Summer Sage & Cucumber Cocktail

I'll admit I drink a little bit. But you probably guess that by now. 

I usually don't stray from a craft beer, red wine, or bourbon served straight up. But there are those occasions when one needs a really fine cocktail. 

You went out for tacos and you get a margarita on the rocks (no salt). Totally necessary. 

You are having sushi and need to wash it down with Sake (buy the bottle). Absolutely needed. 

You're friend invites you out to that new swanky whiskey bar and you get the best old fashioned (or two but probably three) you have ever tasted in your life. No one can argue with this choice. 

A tasty cocktail can be totally needed every now and then. And this summer evening I needed just that, a summertime cocktail with farm fresh ingredients. 

My Dad handed me a bag of his homegrown produce the other week. In the bag were about 8 cucumber. I am as big of a fan of cucumber salad as the next guy but I wanted to make something different with a few of them. I became obsessed with cucumber cocktails last summer in DC and wanted to try to whip something up. I originally wanted to use basil in this cocktail but had none on hand. 

I did however how some beautiful fresh picked sage and thought this would work just as well. And it did. Oh it was summertime in a glass. Refreshing and just what the doctor ordered (no doctor would ever prescribe this cocktail). Cheers!!!

Summer Sage & Cucumber Cocktail
4 fresh sage leaves
2 oz. gin
1.5 oz. cucumber puree*
1.5 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
.5 oz. simple syrup
Cucumber ribbon for garnish

Muddle sage (3 of the 4 leaves) with gin in a cocktail shaker. Then add the cucumber puree, simple syrup and lime juice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a large chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon and fresh sage leaf. Makes one tasty cocktail. 

*To make the cucumber puree, peel and seed a cucumber and place in a blender or small food processor. Puree until smooth.