Cucumber Pomegranate Vodka Lemonade. It's fresh and cool cucumber, paired with the sweet pomegranate in a deliciously boozy lemonade. Everything a refreshing Summer cocktail may need. It's still very much hot outside, and this drink is perfect for that.
I think that cucumber actually tastes a little like melon in this drink. Double summer! And with this incredible dry summer, the cucumber might even give you a humid, rainy sensation in the mouth. I say bring it on. For more cucumber drinks, I highly recommend this Aloe-ha Cucumber Gin and Tonic.
If you're interested in more summery drinks, I recommend trying my new cookbook '99 Summer Drinks'! It is filled with both cocktails and lemonades, iced teas and coffees, among other things, so you will get a little bit of everything. If you want to see an example of a recipe that is in this book, I recommend checking out my Brazilian lemonade.
If you're more of the iced tea kind of person, I've got a killer Ginger Lemon Iced Tea, Hibiscus Iced Tea and Guava White Tea. Or could I tempt you with a blackberry martini or more of a classic whiskey sour? I mean, we shouldn't limit ourselves to just one drink this Summer, I think Summer is a time for experimenting with fresh flavors, so I'm just spitballing my ideas here.
Lemonade is my go-to drink when it's piping hot and my brain is not working. My brain hasn't worked since, like April! I'm not used to this kind of weather. Summer in my town is usually filled with rain, rain and more rain and the occasional sunny day.
This Summer has been the complete opposite. It's strange. But seems like the entire Europe has dramatic problems with the heat this Summer.
But back to the vodka lemonade. I love sweet and sour drinks. Hence, I love sugar and lemon together. I wanted to add some booze because Summer is time for a boozy, fruity drink after all. I've also thought about adding cucumber to the drink because, well because it's cool and fresh (everything the weather is not). And I had a pomegranate laying around.
And the Cucumber Pomegranate Vodka Lemonade was born.
Cucumber Pomegranate Vodka Lemonade
I was kind of sceptical of adding both cucumber juice and pomegranate juice into one mix. I thought the color would be a really mushy brown or something. But it actually turned out pretty good. At first the color looks a little mushy, but as you let it sit it gets this beautiful pink color.
And the flavors work really well together, who knew!
How to Make Vodka Lemonade
Begin making the lemonade. Juice the lemons into a small pitcher, add in the sugar (2). Stir until it's dissolved (3). You don't need to make a simple syrup. You just need to stir a little more, but I think it's worth it, so you don't have to wait the forever it takes for the simple syrup to cool. But if you have it on hand, feel free to use it.
If you want you can also add fresh mint sprigs, and muddle it into the lemon and sugar. When the sugar is dissolved, stir in water and vodka (4).
To make it a mocktail (non-alcoholic), simply leave out the vodka. Delicious! Honestly, this drink is super tasty as a refreshing non-alcoholic option too.
How to Make Pomegranate Juice
I actually had to google if I could use my juicer for this. Apparently, it would just clog the filters and it may result in a bitter juice. So blending it in a blender would work better. Blend the arils, and once it's smooth, run it through a sieve
.
You should take a spatula or a spoon and help the mixture through the sieve. Whisk the mixture a bit and press the spatula into the pomegranate mush. Once you get a relatively dry pomegranate mush, discard it and you're good to go.
Cucumber Juice
For this, I used my juicer. I actually really like the Philips Viva Collection Juicer. It works really well, and it's easy to clean, and it's cheap! I don't need a super fancy one, just one to juice my cucumber and carrots (I am not sponsored for saying this, but I have added an affiliate link).
If you don't have a juicer, you can use the same technique as with the pomegranate juice. I'd peel the cucumber if they are waxed, otherwise it may ruin the texture of the cucumber juice. Slice off the edges too. Then blend and run through a sieve as with the pomegranate.
Add both juices into the vodka lemonade (7-8). Stir and serve!
Serve this delicious cucumber pomegranate vodka lemonade with ice and garnish with mint sprigs or lemon slices.
Cheers!
Vodka Lemonade is not your thing? Try these other porch worthy drinks:
- Whiskey Sour
- Ginger Lemon Iced Tea
- The Penicillin Cocktail with Ginger and Honey
- Tropical Mango Pineapple Smoothie
- The Best Green Smoothie Recipe
- Blackberry Martini
- Blood Orange Margarita
- Classic Mojito
- Rhubarb Moscow Mule
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Let me know, either in the comment section below, or tag me @thegingerwithspice on Instagram. And don't forget to Pin it for later!
In order to keep the blog up and running this post contains affiliate links, it will be at no extra cost to you, please read the disclosure for more information.
This post was originally posted on August 2nd 2018, but has been updated on May 29th 2019 for more instructions and better photos.
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📖 Recipe
Cucumber Pomegranate Vodka Lemonade + Mocktail Version
Cucumber Pomegranate Vodka Lemonade. It's fresh and cool cucumber, paired with the sweet pomegranate in a deliciously boozy lemonade.
Ingredients
- 4 lemons, ½ cup or 125ml
- ¼ cup + 3 tablespoon sugar, 80g
- 3 cups water, 750ml
- ½ cup vodka, + an extra splash 🙂 150ml
- ½ cup cucumber juice, more or less, add juice of ½ English cucumber
- ½ cup pomegranate juice, or juice of one pomegranate
- 1 mint sprig, optional
- Ice, optional, for serving
- garnish, e.g. cucumber slices, pomegranate arils, mint sprigs
Instructions
- Begin making the lemonade. Juice the lemons into a small pitcher, add in the sugar. Stir until it's dissolved*. If you want you can also add fresh mint sprigs, and muddle it into either the lemon and sugar.
- When the sugar is dissolved, stir in water and vodka. To make it a mocktail (non-alcoholic), simply leave out the vodka.
- Blend the arils, and once it's smooth, run it through a sieve. You should take a spatula or a spoon and help the mixture through the sieve. Whisk the mixture a bit and press the spatula into the pomegranate mush. Once you get a relatively dry pomegranate mush, discard it.
- Juice the cucumber in a juicer. If you don't have a juicer, you can use the same technique as with the pomegranate juice**.
- Add both juices into the vodka lemonade. Stir and serve! Serve with ice and garnish with mint sprigs, cucumber and/or pomegranate if you want.
Notes
* You don't need to make a simple syrup. You just need to stir a little more, but I think it's worth it, so you don't have to wait the forever it takes for the simple syrup to cool. But if you have it on hand, feel free to use it.
** I'd peel the cucumber if they are waxed, otherwise it may ruin the texture of the cucumber juice. Slice off the edges too. Then blend and run through a sieve as with the pomegranate.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5Amount Per Serving: Calories: 134
Camila Grace
Saturday 27th of June 2020
Making this for my next girls night! I know they all are going to love these! Thanks for sharing this unique recipe. Regards and much love. Happy Blogging!
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Sunday 28th of June 2020
This is perfect for a girls’ night. Enjoy!
Mimi
Thursday 6th of June 2019
Pomegranate and cucumber are a fabulous combo. They work great together in so many recipes but I haven't made a drink with them yet. Can't wait to try.
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Sunday 9th of June 2019
Now's the time. Thank you!
April
Thursday 6th of June 2019
It's almost end of the week, so time for some vodka lemonade (almost)! Looks like a great drink to have around at the party, so just need to organize one now!
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Sunday 9th of June 2019
Yes, you do. And so do I. Thank you!
Renu
Tuesday 4th of June 2019
A wonderful combination in there and so refershing. I am sure I wont be able to stop at one as I love everything that goes in this recipe. Beautiful pics
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Sunday 9th of June 2019
I tend to drink the whole thing myself, whoops.
Jacqueline Debono
Sunday 2nd of June 2019
This cocktail sounds yummy! I love fresh fruit cocktails. I'm not a juice in a carton person! The addition of cucumber is interesting. Def want to add this to my summer cocktails list!
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Sunday 2nd of June 2019
I'm not really a juice in a carton kind of person either. Maybe during off season! Thank you, Jacqueline.