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Cocktail History
The Go-To is a modern cocktail that was created by Rob Krueger at Extra Fancy in New York City, New York. This cooling recipe is made with gin, citrus, elderflower, cucumber, and mint, and it got its name when Krueger told a patron at his bar that he always turned to this drink when customers asked for “a refreshing gin or vodka drink that’s not too sweet and has cucumber.”
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Suntory Roku Japanese Gin because its exceptionally complex thanks to its six Japanese botanicals. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Elderflower Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with elderflowers, citrus, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. We used Edinburgh Gin Distillery Elderflower Gin Liqueur because it’s high quality and has a fresh, floral aroma and flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Elderflower Syrup in place of the elderflower liqueur.
Ginger Beer: This is a carbonated beverage made with ginger spice, yeast, and sugar. We used Q Mixers Ginger Beer because it has a delicious ginger flavor that is sweetened with agave syrup.
Mint Leaves: This is an herb. We used Mojito mint leaves.
Cucumber Slices: This is a cucumber slice that has been thinly cut into wheel shape.
Mint Sprig: This is an herb. We used Mojito mint.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
Tasting Notes
The Go-To begins with fresh, alkaline aromas of mint and cucumber and has a cooling flavor tinged with cucumber and ginger beer’s spice along with plenty of floral notes. The aftertaste then combines more florals with gin botanicals and a noticeable ginger beer zing.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: It doesn’t happen all that often, but Kendall ended up liking this cocktail much more than Alex did, citing the light and refreshing properties that it was created for. Meanwhile, Alex found the Go-To to be a bit too much of a good thing because none of the flavors really stood out enough for it to be intriguing to him. You’ll just have to try it for yourself to find out if it might be the old faithful at your own bar.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“I think this drink would be fairly pleasing to many palates, especially if you’re already a fan of the Moscow Mule; however, it is a far cry from the former, featuring heavy elderflower flavor along with the cool properties of cucumber and a touch of mint. I personally found it to be super tasty but a bit spicy for my palate, and I think it would benefit from adjusting the ginger beer used down slightly or adding touch of simple syrup.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I really liked this drink! A couple of sips in, and it made me wish so very much that cucumber didn’t give me raging heartburn so I could down the whole thing. It’s so light and refreshing and has a spicy yet cooling quality that makes it an incredibly easy sip. This is great for a hot summer day when you want something light and gin-based but a little different than the classic mint drinks.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
Add gin, lime juice, elderflower liqueur, mint leaves, three cucumber wheels, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh cracked ice.
Top with ginger beer.
Garnish with remaining cucumber wheels and mint sprig.
Ingredients
Directions
Add gin, lime juice, elderflower liqueur, mint leaves, three cucumber wheels, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh cracked ice.
Top with ginger beer.
Garnish with remaining cucumber wheels and mint sprig.
Make It a Mocktail: Use MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin and Monin Premium Elderflower Syrup in place of the elderflower liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Cucumber Cocktails
If you like this cucumber-flavored cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Pimm’s Cup: A Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur cocktail made with lemon juice, simple syrup, soda water, Angostura aromatic bitters, a cucumber slice, a mint sprig, a lemon slice, and a strawberry
Deep Cleanse: A gin cocktail made with aloe vera juice, simple syrup, lime juice, and cucumber slices
Trellis Gin & Tonic: A gin cocktail made with cucumber and rose pink tonic water, lime juice, and a rolled cucumber ribbon
Archangel: A gin cocktail made with Aperol, cucumber slices, and a lemon twist
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