When summer arrives, all anyone can talk about is grabbing a cool, refreshing and usually alcoholic beverage. Whether it be on a quirky rooftop, an outdoor terrace or just at home in the garden.

But with the majority of buzz being around alcoholic tipples, non-alcoholic options can seem a little less exciting. Especially when it comes to the drink of the summer: the spritz.

We know the French Spritz has been heralded as the drink to have clasped in your hand, but what to drink if you’re off the sauce? 

Luckily we have just the thing. For something utterly refreshing, that will make you forget there’s not a drop of gin involved, we present the Yuzu and Cucumber Fizz, a delectable mix of crunchy cucumber and zingy mint that will have your tongue tingling. 

The recipe comes straight from Japanese restaurant Yen, which specialises in traditional soba noodles and of course, a delicious cocktail menu. It can be visited on London’s The Strand. We spoke to Ibi Issolah, General Manager at Yen, who said: “Our mocktails are popular choices during the summer season. The heat can be so dehydrating in itself that many of our customers choose to avoid the dehydrating effects of alcohol and instead opt for a refreshing, non-alcoholic cocktail such as our Yuzu Cucumber Spritz.”

We reckon this would make the perfect non-alcoholic option to offer your friends who aren’t drinking next time you have them round. We can just imagine being sat back in the garden, enjoying a cold glass of Yuzu and Cucumber Fizz on a Sunday afternoon.

Ingredients:

For the drink:

• 20ml Yuzu juice
• 20ml Sugar Syrup
• 3 chunks of cucumber
• Fever Tree tonic water 

For the garnish:

• 4 mint leaves
• 1 strip of cucumber

Method:

1. Muddle the cucumber in a cocktail shaker
2. Add the Yuzu juice and sugar syrup
3. Shake in the cocktail shaker
4. Pour into a highball glass and top up with tonic water
5. Garnish with the fresh mint leaves and fresh strip of cucumber

Images: Brooke Lark / Getty