Gin Elderflower Cocktail Recipe

How to Make a Gin Elderflower Cocktail

Gather all of your ingredients first and prepare your cocktail glass with water and ice so it's nice and cold. Add all of the ingredients to the cocktail shaker without ice.

Dry shake for 10-12 seconds. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake again for another 10-12 seconds.

Empty the ice water from the cocktail glass and double-strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish with a cocktail cherry and lemon peel and serve immediately.

What is elderflower liqueur?

Elderflower Liqueur is a sweet and floral liqueur that can be enjoyed on its own or in a delicious cocktail. This liqueur is made from elderflowers which have their own unique scent and taste.

The most common brand of elderflower liqueur is St-Germain. St-Germain is delicious and can be found at most liquor stores. It is a little more expensive than some liqueurs so if you don't want to spend too much, there are less expensive alternatives available.

What is Maraschino Liqueur?

Maraschino liqueur is a sweet, cherry-flavored liqueur that is made from Marasca cherries which are originally from Croatia. This liqueur is made with the pits as well as the fruit so there is a slight undertone of almond as well.

It's definitely a different taste than a cherry-flavored vodka or some other liqueur so be careful when making a purchase. I usually use the Luxardo or Maraska brand but there are a few others out there as well.

What gin to use for this drink?

There are so many different kinds of gin out there and you can certainly use whatever gin you prefer. Because this drink has the floral element from the elderflower liqueur, I would suggest using a more botanical gin like Aviation or Aria (both originally from Portland OR).

You can make this cocktail more or less sweet

Not everybody loves a super sweet cocktail. The lemon juice and gin help balance the sweetness of the elderflower and maraschino liqueurs, but this cocktail is still on the sweeter side.

If you want less sweet, add more lemon juice or gin. You can also use the lemon peel and squeeze the peel on the rim to add a sour element and bring out more of the lemon taste. If you like sweet, you can add more maraschino or elderflower liqueur.

How to Garnish this Beautiful Cocktail

A lemon twist or peel and a cocktail cherry make a great garnish for this cocktail. If you want to be fancy, play around with different shapes for your lemon peel. Use a sharp paring knife or a razor blade to create some cocktail art. Below you can see my experiments. I am by no means an expert, but it was fun to try!

The best cocktail cherry to use is a Luxardo or Amarena cherry. They are sweet, and firm, and have a special flavor you can't get from a regular maraschino cherry. These can be a little expensive at the store, but, you can make your own! Check out my Amarena Cherry recipe to see how!

Make your own Luxardo or Amarena Cherries!

If you have purchased or shopped for Luxardo or Amarena cherries, you know they are a little spendy. I believe it is worth the investment for a craft cocktail, however, you can also make your own for a fraction of the cost.

Check out my post on how to make your own Homemade Luxardo Cherries soaked in liqueur. There is also a quick recipe for homemade Amarena cherries as well!