Limonata Scozzese

Makes 1 drink

Created by Steve Sanchez at Perbacco in San Francisco.

• 2 one-inch pieces of cucumber, with peel
• 11/2 ounces Hendrick's gin
• -- Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 ounce Cucumber-Infused Simple Syrup 
• -- Cucumber wheel for garnish

Instructions: Muddle cucumber in a mixing glass. Add a 16-ounce glass of ice, along with gin, lemon juice and simple syrup and shake well. Strain into a highball glass. Garnish with a cucumber wheel.

Cucumber-Infused Simple Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 to 1/3 medium-size cucumber cut into large chunks.

Instructions: Boil water, sugar and cucumber in a pot over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved and the liquid becomes syrupy, about 30 seconds after liquid starts boiling. Strain out the cucumber and store in a container in the refrigerator.

Cucumber Margarita

Makes 1 drink

This refreshing blender drink was invented by the bartenders at Straits restaurant.

• 21/2 ounces Tequila
• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounces sweet and sour
• 1 four-inch cucumber, peel on, cut in three pieces, plus two thinly sliced rounds for garnish
• -- Salt (optional)

Instructions: Put Tequila, triple sec, simple syrup, and sweet and sour in blender. Add the cucumber pieces. Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice and pour it into the blender as well. Blend until incorporated. Pour into glass, rimmed with salt if desired, and garnish with cucumber rounds.