Friday Cocktail Hour- Cucumber Prairie Fizz

Looking for a smashing, refreshing, fizzy crisp cocktail thats not too sweet and not too bitter? Look no further- my darlings- I give you an icy, cucumber infused vodka, lemon simple syrup topped, tonic water- “Prairie Fizz”.

I know what you are thinking, “A fizz is typically made with gin.”

Well, this bottle is gorgeous vodka bottle and is begging for a photograph – so there. Plus- vodka and tonic are so late spring/ early summer. Next week- a gin cocktail.

Using farm crafted award winning Prairie Vodka, I infused it with strips of cucumber. Then I made a simple syrup with long, fragrant lemon peel and topped the whole thing off with tonic water, a few cucumbers and a pinch of mint. So refreshing. Give it a try. Happy Friday everyone.

Mason jars make for good cocktails shakers out here in Montana

Cucumber Prairie Fizz- makes 3 cocktails

6 oz vodka
1/2 cucumber, peeled & sliced into rounds
1/2 cucumber sliced in 1/4′ strips lengthwise
3 oz lemon infused simple syrup*
Ice
12 Ounces Tonic water
Fresh mint

Long strips of lemon peel create a fantastic simple syrup

Method-

Place cucumber rounds in 6 oz of vodka. Chill at least 2-3 hours. Meanwhile in a small saucepan make simple syrup. *Place two large strips of lemon peel in a pan with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Let cool. Once cooled to room temp, place syrup in a jar in the fridge to use until needed.
Before mixing, remove cucumber from vodka- set aside for garnish. In a martini shaker, add ice, 1 oz simple syrup and 2 oz of the cucumber infused vodka. Shake for 30 seconds or until shaker is frosted over.
Pour into a glass filled with ice, the vodka mixture and top with tonic water. Garnish with strips of cucumber, the vodka infused cucumber rounds and a pinch of mint. Serve chilled. Repeat.