Spa Splash Cocktail

The gurgling trickle of water in one of those little tabletop rock fountains; soothing instrumental music floating through the air; relaxing aromatherapy tickling your nose. Ah. The spa. The only thing missing is a cocktail! That’s where this little number comes in.

Fruits, a vegetable, and an herb add fresh flavor to this drink by mixologist Kathy Casey, which appeared in Drinks magazine—and if cocktails were served at the spa, this would be a refreshing choice. Luckily, you can relax in the comfort of home after whipping up this creation—perhaps while soaking your tootsies in a bubbling massaging foot spa. Or, just kick back on the deck. Either way, we can relax and think of how the fresh grapefruit and lime add a nutritious touch of vitamin C—and the cucumber may not count as a serving but is a veggie, after all. Perhaps cut a couple extra slices of that cuke to put over your eyes while you sip? Cheers!
 

Spa Splash

Makes 1 cocktail

1 large wedge of fresh pink grapefruit
3 slices of cucumber
2 large fresh mint sprigs
1 1/2 oz. Bacardi Limón rum
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup (see recipe below)
Splash soda water
Garnish: fresh cucumber slice and fresh mint sprig

Muddle grapefruit, cucumber, and mint in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice and add rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously, then add a splash of soda to the shaker. Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Top with more ice if needed. Garnish with cucumber slice and mint sprig.

Simple syrup

Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a heavy pan.
Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Remove from heat and let cool. Bottle and store at room temperature until needed.
(Store in refrigerator up to two months.)
 

Mary Subialka is the editor of Real Food and Drinks magazines, covering the flavorful world of food, wine, and spirits. She rarely meets a chicken she doesn’t like, and hopes that her son, who used to eat beets and Indian food as a preschooler, will one day again think of real food as more than something you need to eat before dessert and be inspired by his younger brother, who is now into trying new foods.