Chef notes
With a refreshing combination of cucumber, lime and aloe, the Green River has the flavor profile of the ideal warm-weather cocktail, but with the lightness and universality of a drink able to be made at any time. We like to honor Pebble Bar's history and its neighbors by naming drinks after iconic performances at Radio City Music Hall, so this cocktail pays homage to the eponymous summertime song by John Fogerty of the band Creedence Clearwater Revival.
The Green River is the perfect example of how cocktails can evolve over time; it's a riff on an old classic, an Eastside, which was created as a riff on a Gimlet. The Gimlet is a simple concoction of gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup. Cucumber and mint were later added, creating the Eastside. This recipe has the addition of aloe, making it something entirely new and different. Aloe liqueur gives the drink an herbal, light and clean quality and because of its botanical character, it naturally pairs perfectly with ingredients like cucumber and lime.
This recipe is incredibly versatile depending on what you have access to in the moment. If you can't find aloe liqueur, you can leave it out and use the remaining recipe specs to make a fantastic Eastside. Tequila and vodka can be swapped for the gin, but if you choose to stick to gin, I recommend going for a cucumber gin, rather than a London Dry gin, as it works better in this particular cocktail. The cucumber and lime juices can be store bought if you're in a pinch; however, because this cocktail's main characteristic is its freshness, fresh juices will boost the drink to the next level.
Technique tip: Ultra-fine strain your drink after shaking to avoid your mint from coming out.
Swap option: Silver tequila or vodka can be used in the place of gin. Instead of demerara syrup, you can use 3/4 ounce of simple syrup (1 part white sugar to 1 part water).
Ingredients
- 8-10 mint leaves
- 3/4 ounce cucumber juice
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce demerara syrup (or 3/4 ounce simple syrup)
- 1/2 ounce aloe liqueur
- 1½ ounces gin
- 1 slice cucumber, to garnish
Preparation
1.Add mint leaves, cucumber juice, lime juice, demerara syrup, aloe liqueur, gin and 5 to 7 cubes of ice into a cocktail shaker.
2.Put the lid on the shaker and shake until frost begins to form (if using a tin), about 7 seconds.
3.Take off the lid, strain and pour into a coupe glass.
4.Garnish with a slice of cucumber, slightly cut to stand on the rim of the glass.
