Gordon's Cup
The Gordon's Cup is an elegant and simple modern classic created by the legendary bartender Sasha Petraske. It's a gin-based drink that beautifully balances the botanical notes of gin with the coolness of muddled cucumber and the tartness of fresh lime juice. A pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper elevate it from a simple sour to a uniquely savory and sophisticated cocktail, making it incredibly refreshing and sessionable.
Preparation
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Preparation time
Difficulty
Drink Classification
The Gordon's Cup is classified as a modern classic cocktail. It falls into the category of gin-based "sours," characterized by a spirit, citrus, and sweetener, but with a unique savory twist. It's often enjoyed as a refreshing aperitif.
Serving
The Gordon's Cup is a cold, moderately alcoholic drink served on the rocks in a chilled Old Fashioned glass. The presentation is simple and elegant, focusing on the fresh ingredients.
Serving size
Approximately 120-150 ml or 4-5 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 18-22% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Rocks
Glass treatment
Chilled
Backstory
Created by Sasha Petraske in the early 2000s at his influential New York City bar, Milk & Honey. The drink was designed as a simple, elegant, and refreshing cocktail that was easy to make yet complex in flavor. It quickly became a bartender's favorite and a staple of the modern cocktail renaissance, embodying Petraske's philosophy of "less is more."
Origin
Created in New York City, USA, in the early 2000s by bartender Sasha Petraske.
Gordon's Cup
The drink is consistently known as the Gordon's Cup, a name that pays homage to the gin brand often used and its cup-style serving vessel. There are no widely recognized alternative names for this modern classic.
Original name
Gordon's Cup
Characteristics overview
This cocktail offers a crisp and refreshing flavor profile dominated by cool cucumber and tart lime, with a unique savory edge from salt and pepper. The aroma is fresh and green, leading to a clean, light-bodied drink perfect for summer sipping.
Flavor
Refreshing, crisp, savory, herbal, citrusy, cool cucumber
Aroma
Cucumber, lime, gin botanicals, juniper, hint of black pepper
Taste balance
Sour, slightly sweet, touch of saline
Aftertaste
Clean, crisp, lingering cucumber and lime
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Pale green, slightly cloudy
Texture
Light-bodied, smooth
Seasonality
Very refreshing, summery
Flavor intensity & Experience
The flavor is bright and dominated by sourness from the lime and freshness from cucumber, with a low but noticeable savory and spicy kick. It is not overly sweet, alcoholic, or carbonated.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation
Ingredients
You'll need a quality London Dry Gin, fresh limes, simple syrup, and a fresh cucumber. The signature touch comes from a pinch of fine sea salt and a couple of grinds of fresh black pepper.
- London Dry Gin60 ml / 2 ozA classic, juniper-forward gin works best.
- Lime Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 ozMust be freshly squeezed for best results.
- Simple Syrup15 ml / 0.5 ozStandard 1:1 ratio of sugar to water.
- Cucumber Slices3-4 thick slicesUsed for muddling to extract juice and flavor.
- Fine Sea Salt1 pinchEnhances the flavors and adds a savory note.
- Black Pepper2 grindsMust be freshly ground for best aroma.
Ice type
- Cubed
Mixing equipments
Essential equipment includes a cocktail shaker and a muddler to extract the cucumber flavor. A jigger for accurate measurements and a fine-mesh strainer for a clean pour are also required.
- Cocktail shaker for chilling and mixing.
- Muddler for pressing the cucumber.
- Jigger for accurate liquid measurement.
- Fine-mesh strainer for a clean pour.
- Knife and cutting board for preparing cucumber.
Instructions
The method involves gently muddling fresh cucumber with salt and pepper, adding gin, lime, and syrup, then shaking everything with ice. The drink is double-strained into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnished with more cucumber.
1. Chill your rocks glass by filling it with ice and water and setting it aside.
2. Place 3-4 thick cucumber slices, the pinch of salt, and the grinds of pepper in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
3. Gently muddle the cucumber slices to release their juice and essential oils. Do not pulverize them into a pulp.
4. Add the gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
5. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
6. Shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds until the shaker is well-chilled.
7. Empty the ice and water from your chilled rocks glass and fill it with fresh cubed ice.
8. Double-strain the cocktail from the shaker into the prepared glass using a standard cocktail strainer and a fine-mesh strainer to catch cucumber bits.
9. Garnish with a fresh cucumber spear or wheel and serve immediately.
Garnishing
A simple garnish of a fresh cucumber spear or a thin cucumber wheel placed in the glass complements the drink's primary flavor.
- Cucumber spear or wheel placed in the glass.
Dietary Information
This cocktail is naturally free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten (when using pure distilled spirits). 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 cocktail contains around 180-210 calories per serving, primarily from the alcohol and sugar. The carbohydrate and sugar content are relatively low, coming from the simple syrup and lime juice.
Calories
Averagely 180-210 kcal / 753-879 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 9-12 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 8-11 g
Sugar level
Occasions
This drink is perfect for warm weather occasions like summer gatherings, garden parties, or a sophisticated brunch. Its light and refreshing nature also makes it an excellent choice for an aperitif before a meal.
- Summer Parties
- Brunch
- Aperitif Hour
- Garden Parties
Pairing suggestions
The Gordon's Cup pairs wonderfully with light and fresh foods. Its crisp, savory character complements seafood dishes like oysters and shrimp, fresh salads, and tangy goat cheese. It serves as an excellent palate cleanser alongside various light appetizers.
- Light appetizers
- Seafood, such as oysters or grilled shrimp
- Salads with vinaigrette dressing
- Goat cheese and crackers
Gordon's Cup: The Savory and Refreshing Modern Classic
The Gordon's Cup is a testament to the genius of simplicity in cocktail making. Created by Sasha Petraske, this modern classic is a sophisticated and highly refreshing gin sour with a twist. The combination of cool muddled cucumber, tart lime, and botanical gin is elevated by a savory pinch of salt and pepper. It is an exceptionally well-balanced drink, perfect for warm weather and an ideal introduction to the world of modern, elegant cocktails.
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