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This cucumber martini recipe creates a light and refreshing cocktail that's ideal for sipping on a warm summer evening.

Two coupe glasses of cucumber martinis garnished with cucumber ribbons.

Rather than get out big tools for creating pureed cucumber, we're using a muddler to crush a few cucumber slices to get that crisp cucumber flavor. Pairing it with the floral of elderflower keeps it from being too vegetal. It's a unique and delicious way to use the cucumber in your garden.

Enjoy this refreshing cucumber elderflower martini at your next party or backyard barbecue! I love serving this perfect summer cocktail with a light appetizer like my whipped ricotta dip with honey, savory sweet potato chips, or caprese crostini.

What’s in a Cucumber Martini?

Vodka - Choose your favorite plain vodka for this recipe, or you can up the cucumber flavor and choose a cucumber-infused vodka.
Elderflower Liqueur - I use St Germain Elderflower Liqueur for my elderflower cocktail recipes. If you're new to elderflower liqueur, choose a small bottle as this is an expensive alcohol. You can also use elderflower syrup or elderflower cordial in place of the St Germain if you're looking for a less expensive option.
Simple Syrup - Easily made at home with white sugar and water, simple syrup adds a clean sweetness to the drink.
Fresh Lemon - Fresh lemon juice is a must so skip the bottled juice and squeeze about half of a lemon for this cocktail.
Fresh Cucumber - Choose English cucumbers or hothouse cucumbers for this cocktail as they have less seeds in them versus a traditional cucumber.

How to Make a Cucumber Martini

Lemon juice being poured into a cocktail shaker.

Place the slices of cucumber and the lemon juice in a cocktail shaker.

A hand using a muddler in a cocktail shaker.

Muddle to break up and crush the cucumber.

Tip: Room temperature cucumbers are easier to muddle than cold cucumbers, so leave your cucumber out of the refrigerator.

Vodka being poured into a cocktail shaker.

Add vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice.

Ice cubes being poured into a cocktail shaker.

Fill the shaker halfway with ice cubes.

Cucumber martini cocktail being poured from a cocktail shaker, through a mesh strainer, and into a coupe glass.

Cover and shake well. Double strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe glass.

A hand placing a cocktail pick with a cucumber ribbon on to a coupe glass.

Garnish with a peel of cucumber.

Make Your Own Simple Syrup

Simple syrup is super easy to make at home. Just be sure to make it a few hours (or more) before you’re planning to make your cocktails so it has time to chill. Get the recipe and all my syrup-making tips over on my simple syrup recipe page.

A jar of simple syrup set among a spilled jar of white sugar.

How to Garnish a Cucumber Martini

Garnish your cucumber martini with a thin slice of cucumber - either small, cucumber slices or use a vegetable peeler to peel the length of the cucumber to create a cucumber ribbon garnish. Take the long peel and fold it back and forth to create a ribbon-like pattern. Secure it with a cocktail pick and place it in your drink. (Watch this Instagram Reel to see me make a quick and easy cucumber ribbon garnish.)

A close up of a thin, long peel of cucumber threaded onto a cocktail pick to look like a ribbon.

More Refreshing Vodka Cocktails

Looking for more delicious vodka cocktail recipes? Try my citrusy Pineapple Martini, a tart-but-sweet Blueberry Lemon Drop, or embrace summer's favorite fruit and make a Peach Raspberry Martini or Ginger Peach Moscow Mule.