Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler

The Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler is a brilliantly refreshing mocktail designed for those who appreciate bold flavors without the alcohol. It combines the crisp, clean taste of muddled cucumber with the sharp, green heat of fresh jalapeño, all balanced by tangy lime juice and a touch of sweetness. Topped with sparkling water, this drink is both invigorating and complex, offering a sensory experience that is perfect for any time of day.
Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler is classified as a modern mocktail. It is a non-alcoholic beverage designed with the complexity and balance of a contemporary cocktail. It falls into the category of refreshing, spritzer-style drinks.

Serving

Serve this cold mocktail in a tall, chilled Highball glass filled with ice. It's a non-alcoholic drink, perfect for all ages.
Serving size
Approximately 240 ml / 8 oz
Alcohol content
0% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Highball
Glass treatment
Chilled glass is recommended

Backstory

This mocktail is a product of the modern craft beverage movement, where bartenders began applying sophisticated flavor-pairing techniques to non-alcoholic drinks. It draws inspiration from Mexican aguas frescas and the popular spicy margarita. The goal was to create a zero-proof drink that was not overly sweet, but instead offered a complex, savory, and spicy profile to tantalize the palate.
Origin
This is a contemporary creation, likely originating in the United States in the 2010s, coinciding with the rise of the craft mocktail trend.

Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler

This drink is consistently known as the Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler. Alternative names like Spicy Cucumber Cooler or Jalapeño Cucumber Fizz simply highlight its primary flavor components of spice from the jalapeño and freshness from the cucumber.
Original name
Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler
Alternative names
  • Spicy Cucumber Cooler
  • Jalapeño Cucumber Fizz

Characteristics overview

This drink offers a crisp, vegetal flavor with a spicy kick, balanced by citrusy tartness and a light sweetness. Its aroma is fresh and green, while its appearance is a pale, translucent green, complemented by a light, bubbly texture.
Flavor
cool, crisp, spicy, vegetal, tangy, subtly sweet
Aroma
fresh cucumber, green pepper, zesty lime
Taste balance
sour, spicy, sweet
Aftertaste
clean, refreshing, lingering warmth
Fizziness
bubbly, effervescent
Color appearance
pale green, translucent, fresh
Texture
light, crisp, effervescent
Seasonality
refreshing, summery, year-round

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor profile is dominated by a refreshing sourness and a noticeable spiciness, with sweetness playing a supporting role. This non-alcoholic drink is moderately carbonated and has no bitterness, saltiness, or creaminess.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need fresh cucumber and jalapeño slices, freshly squeezed lime juice, agave nectar for sweetness, and sparkling water to top it all off. All ingredients are non-alcoholic and readily available.
  • Cucumber4-5 slices
    Use fresh, crisp cucumber for the best flavor.
  • Jalapeño1-2 slices
    Remove seeds and white pith for flavor without intense heat. Adjust quantity to your spice preference.
  • Fresh Lime Juice30 ml / 1 oz
    Freshly squeezed is essential for a bright taste.
  • Agave Nectar15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Can be substituted with simple syrup or honey (if not vegan). Adjust to taste.
  • Sparkling Water120 ml / 4 oz, to top
    Club soda or seltzer also work well.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

The essential tools are a cocktail shaker and a muddler to release the flavors from the cucumber and jalapeño. A fine-mesh strainer is recommended to remove small pulp for a cleaner drink.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and mixing
  • Muddler for extracting flavors
  • Fine-mesh strainer for a smooth texture

Instructions

The process involves muddling fresh cucumber and jalapeño with lime juice, shaking the mixture with agave and ice, then double-straining into an ice-filled glass. Finally, top with sparkling water and add your garnishes.
1. In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, add the cucumber slices, jalapeño slices, and fresh lime juice.
2. Gently muddle the ingredients to release their juices and oils. Avoid over-muddling, which can make the cucumber bitter.
3. Add the agave nectar to the shaker, then fill the shaker with ice.
4. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds until well-chilled.
5. Fill a Highball glass with fresh ice. If using a cucumber ribbon, place it inside the glass before adding ice.
6. Double-strain the contents of the shaker through a standard cocktail strainer and a fine-mesh strainer into the prepared glass.
7. Top the drink with sparkling water.
8. Garnish with a fresh jalapeño slice and an optional mint sprig before serving.

Garnishing

Garnish with a long cucumber ribbon placed inside the glass and a thin slice of jalapeño on top. A fresh mint sprig can also be added for extra aroma and visual appeal.
  • Cucumber ribbon for an elegant look
  • Thin jalapeño slice to signal the spice
  • Mint sprig for aroma (optional)

Dietary Information

This mocktail is completely alcohol-free, caffeine-free, and free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten. It is suitable for both vegan and vegetarian diets.
✕ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a low-calorie mocktail, containing approximately 60-80 kcal per serving. Most of its calories come from carbohydrates, primarily the natural and added sugars from the agave and lime juice.
Calories
Averagely 60-80 kcal / 251-335 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 15-20 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 12-16 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cooler is ideal for warm-weather events like summer parties, barbecues, and poolside lounging. It also serves as a sophisticated non-alcoholic option for brunches or as a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up.
  • Summer Parties
  • Barbecues
  • Brunches
  • Healthy Alternative
  • Afternoon Refresher

Pairing suggestions

The cooler's crisp and spicy notes pair exceptionally well with Mexican and Latin American cuisine, cutting through rich and spicy flavors. It's also a great companion for grilled foods, light salads, and fresh appetizers, cleansing the palate between bites.
  • Spicy Mexican food like tacos or ceviche
  • Grilled fish or chicken
  • Fresh salads
  • Light appetizers like guacamole and chips

The Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler: A Refreshing Kick

The Cucumber Jalapeño Cooler is the epitome of a modern mocktail, offering a complex and satisfying experience without alcohol. Its flavor profile is a delicate dance between the cool, vegetal notes of cucumber and the bright, lingering heat of jalapeño. Balanced with the tartness of lime and a hint of agave sweetness, and finished with a refreshing effervescence, it's a sophisticated choice for any occasion. Easy to prepare and visually appealing, it proves that non-alcoholic drinks can be just as exciting as their spirited counterparts.

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