Mixology Monday: Gin

There's two things I'm always on the lookout for: The perfect hamburger and the mind-blowing Gimlet.

Since this isn't Hamburger Monday, we'll focus on the recipe that I've finally found for the perfect Gimlet. Feel free to e-mail me for excellent hamburger recipes (Hint: Grind your own meat)

The traditional Gimlet is pretty straightforward and a great way to get someone to start liking gin who may not be that in to it, even those that watch you order gin and the first thing out of their mouth is "I can't drink gin." Tell them that this isn't the Beefeater that their grandma drank/used for disinfecting.

The original Gimlet consists of gin, Rose's lime juice, and a lime garnish. Well, that's pretty boring. Let's fun it up:

The Cucumber Gimlet
1 ¾ oz. Hendrick's Gin
¾ oz. Lime Juice
¼ oz. Elderflower syrup
1 dash Orange bitters
Float of Champagne

Combine all the ingredients, except Champagne, into an ice-filled shaker. Stir for about 10 seconds. Pour in to a martini glass and pour Champagne in to glass to create a float. Garnish with a cucumber.

• It's important to use Hendrick's Gin for this drink as it is a gin that has cucumber flavorings in it.
• The one thing you'll probably have a hard time finding is the Elderflower syrup. There's no one-place that always has it. You can make your own, but I recommend trying to find it at a local gourmet shop.
• In order to create the Champagne float, you can pour the Champagne in to the glass over the back of a spoon.

So refreshing, so sexy. When you're walking around with a nice green drink and a cucumber floating in it at the next office get-together at your house, you'll be sure to be instantly promoted!

Thanks to Jay at Oh Gosh! for hosting!