Yes, you read that right. Gin and Tonic Refrigerator Pickles ~ alcoholic pickles! Beautiful little Persian cucumbers basically pickled in a giant G&T. Gin, (I like Hendrick’s) tonic water, lime, and some juniper berries make a perfectly good pickling solution. What? You don’t believe me? Give it a try!
I can’t pass by small cucumbers without the overwhelming urge to take them home. They’re like a basket of puppies on the sidewalk, I just can’t ignore them. And once I got them home I knew I had to do the right thing and pickle them. But I’ve already posted a basic Refrigerator Pickle, so I figured I’d try to do something a little different this time.
You’ll need to pick up some Juniper Berries for this recipe. You can find them at better grocery stores, or online. Juniper berries are actually not berries at all, they are miniscule cones, from the juniper tree. They have a sort of piney, citrusy, sharp flavor, and while we don’t use them much in the States, they’re used as a spice in Europe. Most of us know them as the main flavor in gin. I love the flavor and the aroma, and it’s a perfect pairing with the pickles.
My husband and I taste tested these over the course of a week, and we got quite fond of them! I envision them alongside grilled burgers, hot dogs, or sandwiches, with or without an accompanying cocktail. It’s a good thing they are so easy to put together, because I can see a few more batches in my future!
If you love pickles like we do, you’ve got to try my Dill Pickle Potato Salad, it’s a huge hit with everybody! And once you’ve got that one under your belt, it’s on to my Dill Pickle and Brat Soup!
Other quick pickle recipes to try ~
Ingredients
- 5-7 small Persian or pickling cucumbers
- 1 Tbsp of juniper berries
- 3/4 cup gin
- 3/4 cup tonic water
- juice of 1 lime
- 2 Tbsp Roses lime juice
Instructions
- Wash and trim the stem tips from the cucumbers. Slice them in half lengthwise, and then in half again. Trim them to the length of your jar. You want the spears to fit in the jar and eventually be completely submerged in liquid when you are finished.
- Mix the gin, tonic water, fresh lime juice and the Rose's.
- Lightly crush the juniper berries to release their flavor. Fit the pickle spears into a clean glass jar. Fill the jar but don't pack them in super tightly.
- Add the juniper berries, and then the liquid mixture. Top off with more tonic water if the spears aren't completely submerged.
- Cap the jar tightly and refrigerate. Let the pickles 'pickle' for 2 days before eating.
- The pickles will keep for at least a month in the fridge.
Don’t forget to pin these Gin and Tonic Refrigerator Pickles!
32 Comments
Wtitasaurus
November 21, 2019 at 2:14 pmI love G&T and these pickles look great! I’m wondering if you can reuse the brine for more than one batch. With 3/4 cup of gin, they get expensive in a hurry if it’s one and done.
Sue
November 21, 2019 at 3:07 pmYes, absolutely!
barbara king
September 4, 2019 at 3:10 pmThese are so wonderful! Did you use the sweetened Rose’s lime?
Sue
September 4, 2019 at 3:53 pmNo, but you could!
Anne Reed
July 10, 2018 at 12:00 amThey are AMAZING. I liked them early- a few days in when they were still crispy.
Sue
August 24, 2019 at 12:23 pmI love to enjoy refrigerator pickles right away, so crisp!
Judy
November 11, 2017 at 1:03 pmThese look fun for a Fall cookout. I? only use diet tonic as the regular is very high calorie. Do you think the diet version would work in the recipe? Thanks….
Sue
November 12, 2017 at 7:58 amI don’t think the actual pickles would be very high calorie, Judy, but you can definitely use the diet version, for sure.
Anne-Marie
May 4, 2017 at 11:11 pmAmazing recipe! I’m going to try this for sure! I want to do a post about cucumbers soon, will it be ok to feature your post?
Sue
August 24, 2019 at 12:23 pmOf course, thanks!
Colorful Canary
September 21, 2016 at 3:44 pmLovely recipe thank you! I featured it on my blog http://www.colorfulcanary.com/2016/09/fall-flavors-19-jazzy-juniper-berry.html
Sue
August 24, 2019 at 12:23 pmThanks!
Asra
April 8, 2016 at 12:51 pmThis looks really yummy.
But what is juniper berries, where do I get them, and do we eat those too, or just for flavor?
Sue
April 8, 2016 at 2:06 pmYou can find juniper berries in the spice aisle of large supermarkets, Asra, or you can always get them on Amazon. They are the berries of the juniper tree, and are used for flavor. They’re also used in making gin, which is why I used them in the pickling liquid.
Sue
August 24, 2019 at 12:25 pmthe juniper berries just add flavor, and you can find them in the spice aisle in some larger supermarkets, and online, here.
jayne jeannin
May 11, 2014 at 1:31 pmhi i cant get baby cucumber like yours could it be made with large cucumber thinly sliced instead . thanks
Sue
May 11, 2014 at 1:58 pmPickles are usually made with a different kind of cucumber, Jayne. You can use a regular cucumber, but it will have more seeds, more water, and a tougher skin. If you can find English, or seedless, cucumbers, the kind shrink-wrapped in plastic, that would be better.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
May 9, 2014 at 7:26 amOh these look amazing Sue! I am sorry to be so far behind in my reading and commenting. I had a tremendously busy week and I see you have too! So many recipes to read about. Thanks for your faithful commenting and friendship. I bet it is hard to wait two days before eating these! What a very interesting and beautiful recipe. Cool, crisp with a lovely little wang! Happy Mother’s Day sweet lady!
Lauren
May 1, 2014 at 10:11 pmLooks delicious. I might try with black peppercorns instead of juniper berries for a spicy hint. Thank you for sharing!
Matt Robinson
May 1, 2014 at 9:03 pmWhat an incredibly cool idea. I see them alongside some bbq burgers this summer. Love the pictures too!
denise@magnoliaverandah
May 1, 2014 at 7:23 pmMy goodness what an idea! Sounds marvellous – love pickles, love G&T what could be better.
Catherine
May 1, 2014 at 7:14 pmWow!! I do love pickles and these look and sound delicious! Blessings dear. Catherine
Abbe@This is How I Cook
May 1, 2014 at 7:10 pmOMG! Now I can drink my pickles. Genius, Sue. Really genius.
Monique
May 1, 2014 at 11:17 amWhen I read Gin and Tonic..I thought of my dad..
Growing up I remember he liked those..
:)
I love the look of juniper berries..
Not sure if my little second comment ever got recorded ..re your Sara Lee almos..but NOT cake..:)
Here I told the boys it was called a slice of heaven..
My dughter cracked me up..I sent them home with some and when they had them that night..both looked at Caroline and said a slice of heaven..?
She siad it was like hearing my voice in the kitchen..
It’s a great easy fast and delicious cake..I need a true 7x 11 pan..:)
On my Amazon wish list.. too much kitchen shopping lately..will wait a bit..
But thanks fr that delish recipe.
Sue
May 1, 2014 at 11:30 amI’m glad the cake was a hit — and I also remember my Dad drinking Gin and Tonics, it’s a great vintage cocktail!
Monique
May 1, 2014 at 4:35 pmToo bad I can’t type:)
Mary
May 1, 2014 at 11:04 amI absolutely believe you! what a great idea:)
Mary
Phyllis
May 1, 2014 at 11:03 amNot a fan of gin, do you think vodka would work?
Sue
May 1, 2014 at 11:33 amSure, and there are a lot of vodka and cucumber cocktails you could use as your guide!
Phyllis
May 1, 2014 at 1:28 pmHave added recipe to my To-Do-Soon list. Will let you know what they turn out.
Sue
May 1, 2014 at 10:11 amI was glad to have a use for them, I keep a pretty well stocked spice cabinet, but never needed them before!
cheri
May 1, 2014 at 9:53 amThese look really look delicious! The juniper berries are a great touch.