Hijuelo: A Cucumber Tequila Cocktail

Name: Hijuelo: A Cucumber Tequila Cocktail
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American

Recipe: Oscar Valle , Tonana , San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Photo: Sebastián Herrera Cruz

July 20, 2026

A cocktail that builds on the earthy, vegetal notes of tequila.

This savory cocktail from Oscar Valle, of Licorería Limantour and Tonana, builds on the earthy, vegetal character of tequila. Valle uses cucumber to enhance the spirit’s green notes and herbaceous thyme to complement its earthiness. But to give the cocktail structure, he adds a splash of olive brine.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. blanco tequila
1 1/2 oz. cucumber juice
1/2 oz. thyme syrup
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1/3 oz. olive brine (a splash)
1 dash celery bitters

Tools:shaker, strainer, fine-mesh strainer
Glass:Collins
Garnish:cilantro microgreen and olive

Preparation

Add all of the ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake to chill and double strain into the glass over an ice sphere. Garnish.

Thyme SyrupCombine 2 1/3 cups of water, 1/2 tsp. of sugar, and 1 cup of fresh thyme in a saucepan over medium heat until fully dissolved. Double strain and refrigerate. Will keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.