Tropical Cucumber Cooler Cocktail

By Nava · On Sep 10, 2012

Tropical Cucumber Cooler Cocktail

This has been my summer of discontent. That’s not to say that there haven’t been moments of contentment, but it’s simply been almost unrelentingly too hot and humid. And in the midst of all this sweltering, most of you will know what I mean when I say working 24/7 is the only way to make a real living these days!

It’s not often that Iím tempted by tipsy indulgences, but when I ran across this rum-spiked cucumber cocktail on the In The Raw site, I was intrigued. I love all manner of cucumber drinks, and the idea of combining the ultimate cooling veggie with pineapple juice, mint tea, lime juice and a splash of rum sounded divine. Now that August has brought some relief in the way of lovely evenings, this gentle cocktail sounded like a nice way to celebrate having survived this season by enjoying it with dinner out on the patio.

I’ve been trying to use more Stevia as a sweetener for some time now, and the fact that it’s used to sweeten this cocktail sealed the deal for me (for anyone unfamiliar with Stevia, it’s a sweetener derived naturally from an herb stevia rebaudiana, native to parts of South America. Its sweetness is super-concentrated and practically calorie-free). While I donít have a huge sweet tooth, I appreciate a little something sweet as a treat once in a while. To that end, I prefer natural sweeteners in modest amounts, including natural granulated sugar, agave nectar, and, of course, Stevia.

If you’d like to learn more about these natural sweeteners, one good place to do so is In The Raw, where youíll find information, recipes, and even coupons. In The Raw has generously offered a chance for VegKitchen visitors to win a $100 Cooking.com Gift Card — all you need to do is leave a comment on the post, telling us which recipe on the In The Raw site youíd most like to make. See sweepstakes rules at the end of this post.

You can also tempt your all-natural sweet tooth at In The Rawís fun Hot In The Raw photo gallery, where cooks everywhere have shared their most enticing In The Raw creations. Share your own recipes and photos as well! The Au Natural In The Raw app lets you pixelate your photos to make them even more visually interesting when sharing!

Getting back to the point of this post — the Tropical Cucumber Cooler Cocktail didnít disappoint! My husband and I enjoyed it with a simple outdoor meal of spicy cold peanut butter noodles and fresh corn — in all, a lovely antidote to a challenging summer. I’m not one for regular cocktails, but I’ll definitely be keeping this incredibly refreshing cucumber drink in my beverage rotation, usually minus the rum; the virgin version is just as delicious. Cheers! Here’s to a cool, comfortable, and less challenging fall.

Tropical Cucumber Cooler Cocktail

• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup cucumber juice
• 1/2 cup peppermint tea
• 2 packets Stevia In The Raw or 4 teaspoons granular Stevia In The Raw
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 ounces white rum

Fill two 12-ounce tall glasses halfway with ice cubes. Pour into each glass, half the pineapple juice, cucumber juice, mint tea, and lime juice. Add 1 packet Stevia to each glass, and the rum, if using. Garnish with the rosemary and mint. Serve immediately. Note: To make cucumber juice, peel and cut 2 Persian cucumbers or 1 medium cucumber into 1/2-inch slices. Whirl in a blender with 1/4 cup water until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine strainer, pressing firmly on the solids. Tightly covered, refrigerated cucumber juice keeps for 2 days.

Rules: No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post. b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post. c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post. d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 9/10/12-9/30/12. Be sure to visit the In The Raw page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

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58 comments on “Tropical Cucumber Cooler Cocktail”

1. Kelly D on September 10, 2012 at 8:39 pm said:

   I would like to make the No-Bake Cocoa Crisp Squares
2. Kelly D on September 10, 2012 at 8:41 pm said:

   tweet
   https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/245320858581733378
3. Brandy on September 13, 2012 at 4:04 pm said:

   Coffee baked beans sound amazing and interesting!
4. cw on September 13, 2012 at 9:03 pm said:

   That recipe sounds refreshing….so does the rubyrita – I think I’ll have to try that one!
5. Debbie B on September 15, 2012 at 7:27 pm said:

   i saw a recipe called Celebration Cake that I would like to try
6. Debbie B on September 15, 2012 at 7:41 pm said:

   i tweeted her:

   https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/247117873275891712
7. Jessie C. on September 17, 2012 at 12:13 am said:

   I’d like to make Marshmallow Sweet Potato Casserole
   tcarolinep at gmail dot com
8. Jessie C. on September 17, 2012 at 12:14 am said:

   https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/247548486248181760
9. Amanda Sakovitz on September 17, 2012 at 2:32 pm said:

   I would make the Ambrosia Waldorf Salad

   pokergrl8 at gmail.com
10. Amanda Sakovitz on September 17, 2012 at 2:33 pm said:

    https://twitter.com/aes529/status/247765194246332417
11. Melanie on September 18, 2012 at 2:34 pm said:

    I want to make the White Chocolate Pear Bread Pudding. Sounds delicious.
12. Suzanne on September 18, 2012 at 4:42 pm said:

    I would most like to make one of the popsicle recipes. The red berry or the grape look awesome and delicious!
13. Alicia Simone on September 18, 2012 at 5:03 pm said:

    I would love to make the lemon chicken and asparagus! Yum!
14. Amy Tong on September 19, 2012 at 1:11 am said:

    This Shrimp, Pineapple and Green Pepper Kebabs with Hot and Sour Dipping Sauce recipe is totally calling my name. Can’t wait to make it this weekend.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it
15. Amy Tong on September 19, 2012 at 1:12 am said:

    tweeted: https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/248288345464131584

    amy [at] utry [dot] it
16. sy on September 19, 2012 at 4:39 am said:

    The cocktail looks refreshing. I want to try the coconut rum balls.
    songyueyu at gmail
17. sy on September 19, 2012 at 4:39 am said:

    tweet: https://twitter.com/syytta/status/248340428275998720
    songyueyu at gmail
18. Melinda on September 19, 2012 at 12:02 pm said:

    Red Berry Popsicles I love fruity desserts
19. sean on September 19, 2012 at 12:13 pm said:

    the Ambrosia Waldorf Salad sounds great and not too challenging

    seanm1999 at hotmail dot com
20. Melinda on September 19, 2012 at 12:13 pm said:

    tweeted
    https://twitter.com/MelindaJoy926/status/248454502368296961
21. LAMusing on September 19, 2012 at 6:17 pm said:

    So many good recipes I bookmarked the site! I want to try the Cranberry Apple Pie over the holidays.
22. Norma on September 19, 2012 at 6:18 pm said:

    Ginger Pear Crisp!! Sounds perfect for fall.
23. Tina M on September 20, 2012 at 11:21 am said:

    Chocolate Cheesecake
24. Tina M on September 20, 2012 at 11:22 am said:

    https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/248804184873369600 tweeted
25. Harmony B on September 20, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    Would love try the Chocolate Cheesecake
26. Harmony B on September 20, 2012 at 2:39 pm said:

    tweet https://twitter.com/hburmeister/status/248853726402588672
27. LR on September 21, 2012 at 11:03 am said:

    waaaay too much oil!
28. Georgia on September 21, 2012 at 7:14 pm said:

    Love to try the Sweet and Sour Shrimp Stir-Fry

    gmissycat a t yahoo dot com
29. Georgia on September 21, 2012 at 7:15 pm said:

    Tweeted too

    https://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/249284947905507328

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com
30. Nava on September 21, 2012 at 7:33 pm said:

    Entering on behalf of Tiffany Winner:
    Also tweeted: https://twitter.com/thismomwins/status/249199958299914241 thismomwins@gmail.com
31. Eugenie on September 22, 2012 at 5:14 am said:

    From The Raw website I want to make the Chinese Chicken Salad recipe.
32. Thomas Murphy on September 22, 2012 at 7:46 pm said:

    I would like to make the Coconut Rum Balls

    rounder9834 at yahoo dot com
33. Thomas Murphy on September 22, 2012 at 7:47 pm said:

    https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/249656106148827136
34. Kerry on September 24, 2012 at 9:14 pm said:

    I would make the Chocolate Cheesecake!
35. Kerry on September 24, 2012 at 9:17 pm said:

    tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/250403083811704832
36. Rita Campbell on September 24, 2012 at 9:41 pm said:

    I would like to make to nutty oatmeal bars. I have 5 young grandkids and I have been trying to find healthier treats for them
37. Erika on September 24, 2012 at 10:16 pm said:

    Definitely want to try the Mulled Apple Cider!
    chambanachik@gmail.com
38. Kelly Massman on September 27, 2012 at 10:12 am said:

    I’d like to make the No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Cookies!!!!! Thanks for a chance to win and have a great day!
    kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
39. Emily N. on September 27, 2012 at 11:10 pm said:

    I want to make the Marshmallow Sweet Potato Casserole recipe!
40. Emily N. on September 27, 2012 at 11:12 pm said:

    tweet https://twitter.com/prizepuzzle/status/251519598963351553
41. Betty C on September 28, 2012 at 2:36 am said:

    I’d like to try No-Bake Nutty Oat Bars more than any other.
42. Christina Tong on September 28, 2012 at 4:15 am said:

    I would like to make the Marshmallow Sweet Potato Casserole. Yummy! Thanks for this giveaway!

    ctong2[at]gmail[dot]com
43. Christina Tong on September 28, 2012 at 4:23 am said:

    I would like to make the Marshmallow Sweet Potato Casserole. Yummy! Thanks for this giveaway!
44. Christina Tong on September 28, 2012 at 4:25 am said:

    I tweeted about this promotion: https://twitter.com/ctong2/status/251596849541169153
45. Monica L. on September 28, 2012 at 10:19 pm said:

    The coconut rum balls look amazing – I would make those!
46. Monica L. on September 28, 2012 at 10:21 pm said:

    I tweeted- https://twitter.com/monikeeta/status/251869152397103104
47. angie lilly on September 29, 2012 at 11:58 am said:

    Imagine watching a creepy movie on a cool fall night while munching on the Sweet and Spicy Nuts! mmmmmmmmm sounds good!
    http://www.intheraw.com/using-itr/recipes/sweet-and-spicy-nuts/?ref=search&product=sugar-in-the-raw&page=1
48. angie lilly on September 29, 2012 at 11:59 am said:

    I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/252074512781295616
49. Jammie on September 29, 2012 at 6:36 pm said:

    I would love to make the turkey sloppy janes. sweepmorey at gmail dot com
50. Jammie on September 29, 2012 at 6:37 pm said:

    tweeted https://twitter.com/mommysdizzy/status/252174861059891200