1. Use a standard wooden reamer to extract the juice from 4 whole lemons into a large pot. Drop in the reamed bodies as well…lemon bodies that is.
2. Add half a cup of regular sugar and muddle with the end of a rolling pin or some such device for 2-3 minutes to extract a goodly portion of the volatile oils in the peels.
3. Add a quart of clean, cool water and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
4. Strain into a 3-4 quart glass jar.
5. Slice 1 large cucumber into very thin slices, (I’d employ a mandoline for this step) and add to the jug.
6. Steep for one hour then stir in 24 ounces of gin. I’m not going to tell you use “the good stuff†but if you wouldn’t drink it in a martini you won’t want to drink it here either. If in doubt simply reach for a solid London style dry gin, as opposed to a richer Dutch style genever (which is actually the original gin, just in case your curious.
7. If you wish to mix by the glass place 4 to 5 of your “best†ice cubes in a rocks glass, add an ounce and a half of gin and top with two and a half ounces of lemonade.
8. Stir and serve out on the porch…on a swing if possible. Â