I was born in the vineyards of Bordeaux. Some would say that I’d be destined to pursue a career in wine or the spirits in general. And I did not prove them wrong.

I’ve spent my life travelling the world, slinging cocktails, learning about different spirits, flavours and methods for creating drinks that are magical. But what I often don’t talk about is the relationships and friendships that have impacted my style, taught me a bunch and for better or worse, left a mark on me.

One of the first bars that I worked at was called Kabar, in Basel, Switzerland. It was an interesting place that worked heavily on infusing culture into their drinks. It was there that I came across Timon, may he rest in peace.

Timon and I tended the bar together and we became fast friends. True to the culture at Kabar, he featured a drink called Le Gurk. Gurk is German for cucumber. And Le means the in French. 

Le Gurk is my living memory of Timon. He left a strong impression on me and I wanted to commemorate him by bringing this cocktail across the Atlantic Ocean and introducing it to more people. To kick off my cocktail recipe blog, I could think of no other cocktail to do this with than Le Gurk.

The Perfect Summer Cocktail

Le Gurk or The Cucumber, as you can imagine, is a delightfully refreshing drink. 

When Timon first made me Le Gurk, I was surprised by how boozy it was, given how light it felt and how easily it went down. 

Le Gurk was made for spring and summer. It is the perfect summer cocktail.

The cucumber and apple juice, combined with the floral elderflower is surprising, and yet revitalizing. You wouldn’t think that cucumber and apple would fit together but Timon knew that adding Elderflower would result in a perfect harmony of sweet, fruity and refreshing flavours, and a very well-rounded cocktail.

I use Iron Buddha Gin as the base for this cocktail because it’s a subtle spirit. It’s a little lemony and sweet, but more importantly, not spicy. I feel it adds to the summer breeze vibe that Le Gurk gives. Throw in a twist of freshly ground black peppercorn for those who crave a warmer sip.

For those super hot summer days, make yourself a Le Gurk, and drink it on the rocks.