Go-To

Rob Krueger, Extra Fancy | Brooklyn, NY

Go To Cocktail Recipe

“Ginger beer has been called ketchup,” says Rob Krueger, meaning that it’s a dependably crowd-pleasing ingredient in the cocktail world. But that doesn’t make it any less delicious. Here, Krueger puts it alongside gin, cucumber, mint, and St-Germain—the original bartender’s ketchup. Variations on this drink have long been Krueger’s answer to requests for a refreshing gin or vodka drink that’s not too sweet or might have cucumber, etc. He mentioned this to a guest one night, to which she responded,“Oh, so it’s your go-to?”inspiring the cocktail’s name.

Reprinted with permission from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes, Edited by Megan Krigbaum copyright 2017. Photographs by Daniel Krieger

Ingredients

Serving: 1

  • 2 ounces gin, preferably Ford’s
  • 2 ounces gin, preferably Ford’s
  • 1/2 ounce St-Germain
  • 1/2 ounce St-Germain
  • 3/4 ounce lime juice
  • 3/4 ounce lime juice
  • 3 cucumber slices
  • 3 cucumber slices
  • 8-10 mint leaves
  • 8-10 mint leaves
  • Ginger beer, to top
  • Ginger beer, to top

Garnish: mint sprig and cucumber wheels

Directions
  1. Combine gin, St-Germain, and lime juice in a Collins glass.
  2. Add ice, then top with cucumber slices and mint.
  3. “Cheat shake” by capping the glass with a small mixing tin and shaking briefly.
  4. Top with ginger beer.
  5. Garnish with fresh mint and cucumber wheels.