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Here are the best St Germain drinks to make with this popular elderflower liqueur! From spritzes to martinis, these tried and tested elderflower cocktails always steal the show.
Got a bottle of St Germain and not sure what to do with it? As a cocktail expert, this popular elderflower liqueur is actually one of my favorite ingredients in my home bar. It adds this uniquely sweet, floral essence to the finish of any drink that makes everyone wonder what’s in it (try it, I promise you will agree!).
Since my first St-Germain drink, I’ve made it my mission to find all the best ways to use it. I’ve found light, fruity, and botanical flavors pair well with St Germain, like white wine, citrus, vodka, gin, and champagne. Here are all my top elderflower cocktail recipes to make with St Germain that everyone always loves!
Top 10 St Germain Drinks (Elderflower Cocktails)
The French 77 is a fun elderflower cocktail that's a spin on the classic French 75 using St Germain elderflower liqueur. It’s bubbly and effervescent, with the floral undertones, a botanical pop from the gin and the zing of fresh lemon juice. If you need a signature cocktail to impress your friends, this one is ideal!
Ingredients: St Germain, lemon juice, Prosecco or champagne
A classic St Germain drink is the French gimlet, a gin gimlet that adds a bit of this elderflower liqueur. A classic gimlet has 2 parts gin and 1 part lime juice, often balanced with a little simple syrup. This spin uses elderflower liqueur in place of the simple syrup: it's sweet tart and refreshing, with floral notes from the St Germain.
Ingredients: St Germain, gin, lime juice
This St Germain cranberry cocktail is deliciously sweet tart! I've found the combination of cranberry and elderflower liqueur actually tastes like candy. This drink is like a St Germain spin on the Cosmo, using cranberry juice to give it a brilliant color.
Ingredients: St Germain, vodka, cranberry juice, lemon juice, simple syrup
This Italian cocktail is a spin-off on the Aperol spritz and even better, in my opinion! The Hugo is made with delicate floral elderflower liqueur and bubbly Prosecco, which compliment each other perfectly. The bubbly combination transports you right to Northern Italy, where this cocktail was born and is popular to this day.
Ingredients: St Germain, Prosecco, soda water
I love anything with St Germain, so it’s no surprise I'm a huge fan of the Irish Maid, a Irish whiskey cocktail starring the fresh flavors of lemon, cucumber, and elderflower liqueur. It’s perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, with floral and botanical notes that shine through and just boozy enough.
Ingredients: Irish whiskey, St Germain, lemon juice, simple syrup, cucumber
This Elderflower & Lemon cocktail is bubbly and refreshing, and so simple to mix up! Combine floral St Germain with vodka, lemon and tonic water, and it’s a beautiful blend of botanical, sweet tart, bright and bubbly.
Ingredients: St Germain, vodka, lemon juice, tonic water
Here’s a light and refreshing cocktail: the St Germain Spritz! It’s floral and bubbly, full of lightly sweet flavor and effervescence. A spin on the classic Aperol Spritz, it’s easy to drink, perfect for brunches, poolside sipping, brunch, or with an afternoon book. (It has a few slight tweaks that make it different from the Hugo!)
Ingredients: St Germain, Prosecco, soda water
Here’s an elderflower cocktail made for celebration: the St Germain champagne cocktail! The flavor is floral, botanical, tangy, and bubbly all at once. If you like, add a fancy garnish to make it party ready.
Ingredients: St Germain, gin, champagne, lemon juice, simple syrup
This St Germain cocktail is as refreshing as it is sophisticated: the Cucumber Martini! It’s a cool, crisp take on the classic martini starring cucumber, vodka, and the floral notes of St Germain. It's fresh, dry, and floral, with just the right scent of cucumber.
Ingredients: Cucumber, vodka, dry vermouth, St Germain
Here's a unique elderflower cocktail: the Skeleton Key! This combination of bourbon, elderflower and ginger beer makes highball drink that’s bubbly and floral, and topping it off with bitters creates a floating orange haze. It’s a modern classic invented in Detroit that has an intriguing origin story.
Ingredients: Bourbon, St Germain, lemon, ginger beer, Angostura bitters
What Makes St-Germain Special
St-Germain is a liqueur that’s made with elderflowers, the small white flowers of an elderberry plant. Here are a few frequently asked questions about this popular liqueur:
- What does St Germain taste like? 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.
- When was St Germain invented? 2007. With such a vintage-looking bottle, it certainly seems like it has hundreds of years of history! Possibly invented by monks in the 1500’s? Nope, a guy named Rob invented it in the 2007. (Here’s the story behind it.)
- 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!
How to Store St-Germain
St Germain should be stored in a cool, dark place like your liquor cabinet: there’s no refrigeration needed. I recommend using it within 18 months of opening.
Best Occasions for St Germain Drinks
I reach for these elderflower cocktails for all kinds of occasions:
- Brunch: The bubbly French 77, Hugo, and St Germain Spritz work well with brunch menus
- Summer entertaining: The lighter, bubbly drinks work perfectly for summer cocktails by the pool
- Romantic dinners: The champagne cocktail or French Gimlet are great for date nights
- Holiday celebrations: The cranberry version or French 77 are great for holiday drinks or New Year’s Eve drinks
Frequently Asked Questions
St-Germain has a unique flavor profile with notes of pear, lychee, citrus, and tropical fruits. It’s slightly sweet but not overly so, with a hint of floral complexity.
St-Germain is widely available at most liquor stores and online retailers.
St-Germain pairs well with a variety of flavors, including citrus fruits (like lemon, lime, and grapefruit), berries, champagne, gin, vodka, and rum.
Have you had a Maximillian’s Affair?
It’s the drink that introduced me to cocktails and still my 1st favorite
I haven’t! We’ll have to try it — it sounds amazing.