This elderflower cocktail uses St-Germain, vodka, fresh lemon, and tonic water to make a refreshing, bubbly drink that’s ready in 5 minutes!
Here’s a drink you won’t be able to stop sipping: my elderflower cocktail! The flavor is so refreshing and balanced that you’ll immediately want to take another sip. The secret?
St Germain, the elderflower liqueur that’s become popular because of its irresistibly sweet floral flavor. Combine it with vodka, lemon and tonic water, and it’s a beautiful blend of botanical, sweet tart, bright and bubbly. Here’s how to make this tasty drink!
5 Star Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This drink is sublime! I think it could definitely be served to someone who doesn’t drink liquor often. Keeping this in my rotation- thank you!” -Tara
Ingredients In This Elderflower Cocktail
Got a bottle of St Germain? This elderflower cocktail is the perfect way to use it. It’s bright, bubbly and just the right amount of sweetness. In fact, this drink is dangerously sippable! But with the tonic water, it’s nicely watered down so you can sip on it for quite a while. Here’s what’s in this elderflower cocktail:
- St Germain: This elderflower liqueur that gives this cocktail its sweet floral flavor. Read more in my notes below.
- Vodka or gin: Vodka lets the elderflower shine; I like using Tito’s but any mid-range bottle works. I also love it with gin, kind of like a gin and tonic.
- Fresh lemon juice: Always use freshly squeezed lemon; it adds just the right flavor complement.
- Bitters: Just a few dashes to add complexity; I usually use Angostura.
- Tonic water: This adds bubbles and a gentle bitter flavor.
About St Germain, The Elderflower Liqueur
St Germain is the magic behind this elderflower cocktail, but what exactly is it? St Germain is a liqueur made with elderflowers, the small white flowers of an elderberry plant. The flavor is light, sweetly floral, and fragrant. It’s hard to describe until you taste it! It adds a unique smooth finish to the flavor of cocktails. Here are a few fun facts about this liqueur:
- How do you say St Germain? First off, don’t say “Saint”. It’s actually pronounced “Sahn-jer-MAHN.” But however you want to say it to not sound too pretentious with your friends, go for it!
- St Germain was invented in 2007. With the beautiful vintage-looking bottle, I originally thought it had hundreds of years of history. (Here’s the story behind inventing it.) It’s safe to say this newcomer to the cocktail scene has enjoyed massive popularity.
How To Make This Elderflower Cocktail
This elderflower cocktail is easier than most drinks: you can mix it up in minutes! Here’s what to do:
- Use a mixing glass. Cocktails are either shaken, stirred, and mixed right in the serving glass. This St Germain cocktail is stirred, and you’ll need to use a cocktail mixing glass or any other large glass. Mix together the St Germain, vodka, lemon and bitters with a large handful of ice using a long bar spoon.
- Strain and add tonic water. Strain out the drink into the serving glass. Add the tonic water.
- Garnish. Garnish with ice, a lemon wheel and fresh mint.
Pro Tip: Add Clear Ice
If you’re looking to step up your presentation for this St Germain cocktail…here’s a trick. Try clear ice! Clear ice is crystal clear, not cloudy like normal ice. You can make it at home and then cut it into organic shapes to fit right into your glass.
Clear ice looks just like the presentation at a fancy bar. It’s easy to make: all you need is a small cooler and 24 hours. Go to How to Make Clear Ice.
Easy Variations
Here are a few of my favorite riffs on this idea:
- Elderflower gin and tonic: Swap the vodka for gin. The botanicals and floral notes are a perfect match. (Start with my best gin and tonic.)
- Hugo Spritz: The Hugo Spritz is a very popular elderflower cocktail with Prosecco, elderflower, fresh mint, and soda water.
- Lime instead of lemon: Using lime juice makes it even zingier.
- Champagne on top: Replace the tonic with bubbly for a St Germain Champagne Cocktail.
When To Serve This Elderflower Cocktail
This elderflower cocktail is refreshing and crowd pleasing cocktail. It’s perfect for sipping as a:
- Happy hour drink
- Brunch drink
- Summer cocktail
- Fancy dinner party drink
- Late night drinks drink
- Guys or girls night drink
- Cocktail hour drink
Elderflower Cocktail (St-Germain & Lemon)
This elderflower cocktail uses St-Germain, vodka, fresh lemon, and tonic water to make a refreshing, bubbly drink that’s ready in 5 minutes!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka or gin
- 1 ounce St Germain
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 4 ounces (½ cup) tonic water
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice!)
- For the garnish: lemon slice, mint sprig
Instructions
- In a mixing glass or other large glass, add the vodka, St Germain, fresh lemon juice, and bitters. Add a handful of ice and stir until cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass or wine class filled with ice. Top with the tonic water and stir gently. Garnish with lemon and mint.
More Elderflower Cocktails To Try
- French Gimlet This spin on the French gimlet pairs gin, lime and St Germain.
- St Germain Champagne Cocktail Elderflower liqueur plus champagne, lemon, and gin.
- St Germain & Cranberry Cocktail Almost like a Cosmo, but better. Tart and perfectly balanced with vodka, cranberry and lemon.
- St Germain Spritz Bubbly and floral, it’s ultra refreshing.
- Cucumber Martini St Germain gives this martini floral notes to complement the cucumber.
what type of bitters?
You can use any type! Angostura is what we typically use here.
This drink is sublime! I think it could definitely be served to someone who doesn’t drink liquor often. Keeping this in my rotation- thank you!
Delicious! Made several of these and very light and refreshing!
Looks delish!
Where is the elderflower in this recipe?
St. Germain is elderflower
What is your favorite bitters for this drink?
We like angostura or peychaud’s for this :)
Thank you. I’ve only tried angostora and love it in an old fashioned.
Looking forward to making some cocktails with st germain.