Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass in the freezer for about 30 minutes to have a frosty glass, or roughly five minutes to give the glass a quick chill.

2. Seed, peel and dice a 3-inch portion of cucumber and place it in the bottom of a cocktail shaker or a mixing glass. Slice one cucumber round for garnish, adding a small slit on one side to allow the cucumber slice to sit on the rim of the martini glass.

3. Muddle the cucumber -- lightly mash it -- with a muddler or a wooden spoon. This helps release the cucumber's favor, allowing it to infuse the cocktail. Fill the shaker about halfway with crushed ice.

4. Add four parts of gin to the shaker. Add one part of dry vermouth. Alternatively, you can add one part of simple syrup, which is made by combining equal parts of sugar and water and dissolving the sugar. Another option is to replace the vermouth with one part of your favorite liqueur, such as an elderflower liqueur, to make a sweet cucumber gin martini.

5. Place the shaker’s lid on tightly and shake it until the outside is frosty. Alternatively, for drinkers who prefer their martinis stirred instead of shaken, stir the concoction with a wooden spoon until the outside of the mixing glass feels ice cold.

6. Remove the martini glass from the freezer. Strain the cocktail mixture into the glass, placing a cucumber slice on the rim before serving.