Many people say that fino and Manzanilla sherries remind them of the sea; these dry, pale bottlings have a slightly saline quality that’s ideal on a hot day. Iced mint tea teams up with gin’s botanicals and lots of fizzy water to make this pitcher drink even more cooling. Don’t skip the fresh mint garnish—the aroma is an essential part of the experience. Cut some extra cucumber slices to place over your eyes in spa day style.
What you’ll need
Glass Pitcher
$13 At Target
Medium Saucepan
$50 $33 At Amazon
Slotted Spoon
$18 At Amazon
Pyrex 4-Cup Measuring Cup
$8 At Bed Bath and Beyond
Recipe information
Total Time
20 minutes
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Bring 4 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add 4 mint tea bags and ⅓ cup sugar; let sit 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove tea bags, gently pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Stir to dissolve sugar.
Step 2
Pour tea mixture into a large pitcher and add 3 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced, pressing down to submerge. Let cool (about 20 minutes).
Step 3
Add 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. fino or manzanilla sherry, ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, and ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. gin to tea mixture; stir punch to combine.
Step 4
To serve, pour one 1-liter bottle chilled club soda into rocks glasses filled with ice to come halfway up sides. Top off with punch. Garnish with large mint sprigs.
