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Go-To Cocktail Recipe
Go-To Cocktail Recipe

Go-To

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.

Cocktail History

The Go-To is a modern cocktail that was created by Rob Krueger at Extra Fancy in New York City, New York. This cooling recipe is made with gin, citrus, elderflower, cucumber, and mint, and it got its name when Krueger told a patron at his bar that he always turned to this drink when customers asked for “a refreshing gin or vodka drink that’s not too sweet and has cucumber.”

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Suntory Roku Japanese Gin because its exceptionally complex thanks to its six Japanese botanicals. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Elderflower Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with elderflowers, citrus, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. We used Edinburgh Gin Distillery Elderflower Gin Liqueur because it’s high quality and has a fresh, floral aroma and flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Elderflower Syrup in place of the elderflower liqueur.

Ginger Beer: This is a carbonated beverage made with ginger spice, yeast, and sugar. We used Q Mixers Ginger Beer because it has a delicious ginger flavor that is sweetened with agave syrup.

Mint Leaves: This is an herb. We used Mojito mint leaves.

Cucumber Slices: This is a cucumber slice that has been thinly cut into wheel shape.

Mint Sprig: This is an herb. We used Mojito mint.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

Riedel Drink Specific Glassare Highball Glass, 10.94 Fluid Ounces
Riedel Drink Specific Glassare Highball Glass, 10.94 Fluid Ounces
All RIEDEL glasses are dishwasher safe; Capacity is 10.94 ounces; glass size is 2.56Lx2.56Wx6.06H (Inches)
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Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Rocks & Highballs, Set of 8, 10.87 fl.oz.
Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Rocks & Highballs, Set of 8, 10.87 fl.oz.
This pack contains 8 pieces; Machine-made and dishwasher safe; Rocks Glass Capacity = 10 oz.; Highball Glass Capacity = 10 7/8 oz.
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OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
Sturdy, stainless steel blade; Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle ensures a safe grip; Hand wash with warm, soapy water and promptly dry
$11.03 Amazon Prime
I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Picks Martini Picks Set (Pack of 15)
I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Picks Martini Picks Set (Pack of 15)
Measure: 4.25″; Material: stainless steel 304, color: silver; Reusable martini olive skewers, stainless steel olive stuffer.
$5.98 Amazon Prime

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-14.

Tasting Notes

The Go-To begins with fresh, alkaline aromas of mint and cucumber and has a cooling flavor tinged with cucumber and ginger beer’s spice along with plenty of floral notes. The aftertaste then combines more florals with gin botanicals and a noticeable ginger beer zing.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: It doesn’t happen all that often, but Kendall ended up liking this cocktail much more than Alex did, citing the light and refreshing properties that it was created for. Meanwhile, Alex found the Go-To to be a bit too much of a good thing because none of the flavors really stood out enough for it to be intriguing to him. You’ll just have to try it for yourself to find out if it might be the old faithful at your own bar.

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I really liked this drink! A couple of sips in, and it made me wish so very much that cucumber didn’t give me raging heartburn so I could down the whole thing. It’s so light and refreshing and has a spicy yet cooling quality that makes it an incredibly easy sip. This is great for a hot summer day when you want something light and gin-based but a little different than the classic mint drinks.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.

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The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes
The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes
Hardcover Book; Editors of PUNCH (Author); English (Publication Language); 352 Pages – 09/05/2017 (Publication Date) – Ten Speed Press (Publisher)
$13.05 Amazon Prime

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-14.

Go-To

The Go-To is a modern cocktail that was created by Rob Krueger at Extra Fancy in New York City, New York. This cooling recipe is made with gin, citrus, elderflower, cucumber, and mint, and it got its name when Krueger told a patron at his bar that he always turned to this drink when customers asked for “a refreshing gin or vodka drink that’s not too sweet and has cucumber.”

Prep Time 3 mins Assembly Time 2 mins Total Time 5 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Servings: 1 Best Season: Spring

Ingredients

Method

  1. Add gin, lime juice, elderflower liqueur, mint leaves, three cucumber wheels, and cubed ice to a shaker.

  2. Shake for 10-20 seconds.

  3. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh cracked ice.

  4. Top with ginger beer.

  5. Garnish with remaining cucumber wheels and mint sprig.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:
How do I make this cocktail recipe non-alcoholic?

Use MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin and Monin Premium Elderflower Syrup in place of the elderflower liqueur to try a mocktail version of this drink.

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About The Author

Kendall is the creator of Novel Nightcaps, a mixology blog chronicling recipes she tries from her cocktail book collection.