Cucumber Lavender Mojito Pitcher

Recipe by

Cucumber Lavender Mojito Pitcher

Serves 6–8

The cucumber is fresh, the lime is bright, the lavender is soft, and the mint offers an aromatic punch. White rum is the ideal base, and effervescent soda is refreshing on a warm summer day. Dried culinary lavender can be found online through Maine-based spice merchants like Gryffon Ridge Spice Merchants and Skordo.

For lavender syrup

1 cup sugar

¾ cups water

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1 ½ tablespoons dried lavender flowers

For pitcher of cocktails

½ cup mint leaves plus 8 whole leaves, reserved for garnish

¼ peeled small cucumber plus thin slices of cucumber, reserved for garnish

2 cups white rum

⅓ cup fresh lime juice

½ cup lavender syrup

1 ½ cups ice

Soda water

1 whole lime, thinly sliced

Dried lavender for garnish

To make the syrup, combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and lavender in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and steep for at least 30 minutes. When the syrup is cool, strain and pour into a container, then refrigerate until ready to use.

To make the pitcher of cocktails, in a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves and peeled cucumber with rum, lime juice, and lavender syrup. Shake well. Add about 1 ½ cups of ice to the pitcher. Strain the cocktail shaker ingredients into the pitcher. Pour mixture into individual highball glasses filled with ice. Top with soda and garnish with whole mint leaves, cucumber slices, lime wheels, and lavender.

From Issue

No. 13 / Summer 2020