St. Patty's Day is tomorrow and while I would like to say we have some super exciting plans to celebrate, really I'd just be lying.  We do have plans on seeing friends over the weekend, but I can guarantee you that it will all be extremely chill, which is right up my 33 year old alley if you know what I mean.  But because I love any good reason to make a cocktail, I will be celebrating through my beverage of choice, which will most definitely contain alcohol.  Enter the boozy green elixir, where healthy meets a cocktail and makes for the best of friends.

Seriously though this drink is kinda good for you in the fact that it has lemongrass, cucumber, ginger, mint, and lemon which are all known for detoxing and cleansing the body.  So I figure that even if I added a little gin to the mix, that I can still get away with saying I am drinking something healthy.  You feel me?

...I thought so, that's why we are friends!

I mean I did just blog a cocktail last week, but I know you aren't judging me, in fact I know you are actually started clapping your hands when you saw this little post in your inbox. But on a serious note, this cocktail is going to not only be perfect for this festive holiday weekend, but it just might become my signature cocktail of Summer.  It's pretty dang refreshing and not too sweet, so they tend to go down pretttyyyyy easily.  

It's okay though, go ahead drink more than one, after all they ARE good for you. (wink wink)  To make your life even easier, visit Drizly for all of your cocktail needs!  

Ingredients-

For the Simple Syrup-

• 2 Stalks of Lemongrass

• 1 Inch Piece of Fresh Ginger

• 1/2 Cup of Water

• 1/2 Cup Sugar

Other Ingredients-

• 1 Cup of Peeled and Diced Cucumber

• 1/2 Cup Fresh Mint

• 1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

• 4 Oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin (Buy it Here)

• Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic Water (Buy it Here)

• Crushed Ice

Directions-

• Make simple syrup by combining water, sugar, lemongrass stalks, and ginger into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sugar has dissolved and let sit for 15 minutes. Strain the syrup and chill thoroughly. (will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month)

• Blend cucumber in a food processor or blender and then strain through a fine mesh strainer to get the juice. (you should have about 1/2 Cup)

• Add cucumber juice, mint leaves, gin, and 2 Oz. of Simple Syrup into a cocktail shaker and muddle the mint leaves into the liquid. Add a few ice cubes and shake until chilled.

• Pour over crushed ice and top off with elderflower tonic water.

• Garnish with more mint, lemon, and cucumber and serve immediately.

Okay, now tell me what your exciting plans are for the weekend so that I can live vicariously through you!  Cheers friends and may you have the luck of the Irish!