With elderflower tonic, gin, fresh lime juice, and a touch of rose water, this St-Germain cocktail is a refreshing–and totally intriguing–twist on the classic gin and tonic.
When I’m wrapping a long long day and want to indulge a little, my husband makes me this St-Germain cocktail. I love it so much that I had to get it on the site!
It’s a celebration of gin’s botanical qualities, with delicate elderflower and orange blossom notes, and a fresh zing from the citrus. Though it’s a total hit in the summer, it shares the Negroni’s talent for fitting right in year-round.
And, with no simple syrup or fancy infusions, it’s a total breeze to make. If you love a gin and tonic, you absolutely have to try this next-level twist!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Though this St. Germain cocktail recipe includes a few ingredients you might not have on-hand, they’re absolutely worth stocking.
- Gin: Use a botanical gin, like Japanese Roku (find more tips for selecting gin below). You want something that is more floral over herbal.
- St-Germain: A sweet, slightly bitter, and aromatic liqueur made from fresh elderflower blossoms. Delicately floral and silky, it adds complexity and body and sweetness to the drink without overpowering the flavor.
- Elderflower tonic: Flavored with elderflower extract, this adds effervescence, florality, and sweetness. Find it at many liquor stores, specialty grocers, and online retailers.
- TIP: Look for brands like Fever-Tree or Fentimans, which use natural ingredients and avoid artificial sweeteners or flavors.
- BEST SUBSTITUTE: Conventional tonic water.
- Orange blossom water: Has a fragrant and floral aroma, with a delicate and slightly sweet flavor that is reminiscent of fresh oranges.
- Lime juice: Fresh lime juice balances the sweet and floral flavors, making the drink more refreshing. Substitute with fresh lemon juice.
- Orange and lime slices are an optional garnish that adds a pop of color and subtly enhances the other flavors.
How to Make a St. Germain Cocktail
This recipe makes one St. Germain cocktail, but free to batch it. Simply mix everything in a big pitcher, add the tonic water just before serving. Here are the steps:
- Mix the cocktail: Fill a highball or G&T glass with ice. Add 1 1/2 ounces of gin, 3/4 ounce of St‑Germain, 3 ounces of elderflower tonic, 1/4 ounce of orange blossom water, and 1/4 ounce of lime juice. Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish and serve: To garnish, slide one thinly sliced orange wheel and 1 thinly sliced lime wheel down the side of the glass. Cheers!
Ingredient Spotlight
Though this is decidedly a St. Germain cocktail, it’s the whisper of orange blossom water that adds the intrigue. It’s used in a lot of traditional regional recipes, like baklava and Turkish delight, so just a touch brings a distinctly Mediterranean flair.
Look for brands that use natural ingredients, and avoid any that contain artificial flavors or additives. A little goes a long way, so this bottle will last in your pantry for a long time.
- TRY IT: Find our favorite all natural orange blossom water from Lebanon. Or check your local Middle Eastern market.
- BEST SUBSTITUTE: You could try rose water, but start small. You can also leave it out, as the cocktail is delicious on its own.
What Kind of Gin is Best?
Go for a botanical gin which carries a natural sweetness, so you don’t need a simple syrup or added sugar. While a juniper gin can be great for sipping or for a classic G&T, I wouldn’t use it in a St-Germain cocktail. The piney flavor doesn’t work well with the elderflower and orange blossom. As for brand recommendations, I’ll let Saba–my resident Gin expert–chime in:
“I typically use Roku Gin, a Japanese gin with 6 botanicals, combining infused flowers and teas with citrus peel. Another great gin is Four Peel by Watershed. It’s distilled with four citrus peels so it combines perfectly with the orange blossom water and elderflower liqueur.”
Ways to Mix it Up
This refreshing gin cocktail can be tweaked to fit your preferences. Here are a few ways you can make this gin cocktail recipe your own:
- Lower the ABV. If you’re looking for a 3 pm backyard sipper situation, you may not want it to be quite as boozy. For a more mellow approach, skip the St-Germain. Or, for an extra low ABV cocktail, skip the gin and use St-Germain as the primary spirit.
- Make it less floral. If you’re sensitive to floral flavors, use standard tonic water in place of the elderflower tonic.
- Make it more herbaceous. Garnish with rosemary, mint or basil to add a herbal, savory note.
- Play with the tart, bitter, and sweet flavors to taste. Add a splash of grapefruit juice to increase the bitter bite. Up the citrus, adding more acidity. Or, make it sweeter with a splash of simple syrup.
What to Serve with St. Germain
This light and refreshing St-Germain cocktail is absolutely delicious with seafood. Shrimp Ceviche, with its citrusy notes, plays particularly well with the lime juice and botanicals. Or, serve with salty and herbaceous finger foods like Easy Blistered Tomato Bruschetta.
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St. Germain Cocktail with Gin
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces botanical gin (I use Roku gin)
- 3/4 ounce St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 3 ounces elderflower tonic
- 1/4 ounce orange blossom water
- 1/4 ounce lime juice
- Orange and lime wheels, for garnish
Instructions
- Mix the cocktail: Fill a highball or gin and tonic glass with ice. Add the gin, St‑Germain, elderflower tonic, orange blossom water and lime juice. Stir.
- Garnish and serve: To garnish, slide one thinly sliced orange wheel and 1 thinly sliced lime wheel down the side of the glass. Cheers!
Notes
- Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils, honey, jams and spices.
- If you’re sensitive to floral flavors, try making this cocktail with standard tonic water.
- Stir gently to keep the tonic’s bubbles.
Nutrition
Ó•Florale 100% Natural Orange Blossom Water
Made using a time-honored distillation process, a splash adds a delicate and aromatic quality to sweet and savory dishes, from marinades and salad dressings to cocktails and rice pudding.
*This post has recently been updated with new information for the readers’ benefit.
My husband and I have made this drink a few times already after we were able to purchase some orange blossom water at a local Lebanese Festival in July. It is absolutely delicious, refreshing and won’t hesitate to drink it over our cold Ottawa, Canada winter days either.
Thanks, Marie-France!
wow that’s so refreshing I think
Thanks, Teknik!
Is it just a coincidence that the drink’s name corresponds to a movie where Bill Murray’s character does a Suntory commercial (Suntory makes Roku)? Either way, I’ve got the Roku and the orange blossom water, this is my weekend project. Cheers!
Um, total coincidence! So funny!
Hi Suzy,
This will be my favorite since I love gin and may I used the Hendrick Gin? Thank you.