The Refreshing Cocktail With A Kick You Didn't See Coming

It's nice to find a cocktail that charts its own path, something unique among all the decadent drinks like mudslides, chocolate martinis, fruity cosmopolitans, and piña coladas. Of course, there's nothing wrong with liking sweet cocktails, whether you like chocolate bitters in your favorite bourbon cocktail or indulge in a sweet lavender old fashioned. But in a landscape of special twists on classic drinks, there's a standout cocktail that relies on a completely different combination of flavors to leave a lasting impression. It's a clean and crisp drink with an upscale vibe and a spicy secret that has nothing to do with hot peppers.

A cucumber wasabi martini will keep you on the edge of your seat with nose-stinging heat, refreshing cucumber, and chilled vodka or gin. It's not a drink you'll put down in one gulp and it's not a cocktail for everyone. But for those who enjoy a challenge or love the sinus-cleansing jab of wasabi, a cucumber wasabi martini is a way to adventure outside of the list of common cocktails. Add a lemon peel curl, strip of nori, or celery leaves for garnish and to balance out the potent flavor of wasabi in the martini.

Equal parts pungent and smooth, and tangy and cool, a cucumber wasabi martini is anything but bland. In fact, it's the exact opposite — a lively combination of flavors that take you on a journey with every sip. Gin brings floral notes to the drink that are complemented by the crisp and fresh flavors of cucumber, all working together to provide a base for the main star of the drink: wasabi.

Native to Japan, wasabi is a green root vegetable in the same family as horseradish. It's ground into a paste and used as a condiment for sushi and all sorts of other dishes. It requires specific growing conditions, which is part of the reason why wasabi is so pricey in the U.S. It can also be combined with sake for another take on a wasabi cocktail. Garnishes like lime juice, olives, lemon, and ginger all bring out different flavors in the wasabi, including undertones of bitterness and sweetness that sometimes get lost in the powerful spicy flavors.

Some foodies claim cucumbers soothe that sting of spice that lingers on your tongue after taking a bite of a pepper, or in this case, wasabi. Cucumbers certainly do provide a cooling base for this spicy martini, plus they have a reputation for giving you a boost of hydration in drinks as well. Cut some easy cucumber spirals for a unique garnish on this elevated martini if you're making it at home to really feel like you've outdone yourself.