Cocktail Recipe: Cucumber Gin and Tonic

1 cucumber
1 1/2 ounces gin 
1/4 lime
tonic 
toothpick

Slice cucumber on a mandolin lengthwise to make two long, flat strips (discard the first strip that is mostly peel). Add one strip to the bottom of a rocks glass and pour gin over the top. Using a muddler or the back of a spoon, press on the cucumber to release some juices. Squeeze the lime over the gin and add lime wedge to glass. Fill with ice and top with tonic. Thread the second cucumber slice onto a toothpick in a wave pattern and use to garnish. Makes 1

Did you know?
The quinine in tonic water fluoresces in ultraviolet light. A cool party trick to be sure, but that same quinine is present in your gin and tonic thanks to outbreaks of malaria in India in the early 1800s. A potent prophylactic medicine, quinine unfortunately won’t do much to prevent the coronavirus. We are, however, willing to give it a try.