cucumber lime punch

1 ½ cups agave nectar

4 cups water

3 cups lime juice

8 cups sparkling water

1 organic English cucumber,

 sliced into thin rounds

1 lime, sliced in rounds

3 long sprigs mint, for garnish 

tequila, optional

First, make an Agave Lime Simple Syrup: Combine the 3 cups lime juice, 1 ½  cups gave nectar and 4 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil until the agave is dissolved. Turn off heat and add six slices cucumber, removing after a few minutes.  

Pour seven cups Agave Lime Simple Syrup into a gallon container or punch bowl. Gently stir to combine, then add all the cucumber, lime and mint as garnish. Finally add eight cups (or whatever fits in the top of your gallon container) with sparkling water.  Serve with tequila on the side to make this a stunning cocktail. Serves 20 (in a rocks glass filled halfway with ice).

By Kate Bolt, #livinglark – To buy a copy of Kate’s new book Lark: Cocktails go to LivingLark.com