This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more.
An elderflower French 75 is a beautiful, floral variation on the classic with St Germain elderflower liqueur subbed in for the simple syrup. Here’s how to make it great.
Why we love this recipe
In this gorgeous variation, elderflower adds a subtle magic to a classic cocktail. St Germain brings gentle floral and herbaceous notes that work beautifully with the gin and lemon juice. This cocktail is:
- Beautifully balanced
- Pleasantly strong but easy to sip
- Equally lovely in warm weather or as a NYE cocktail
- Truly easy to love
What you’ll need
Here’s a glance at the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe.
- You’ll start with a good London dry gin. In this post I’ve pictured Hendrick’s. I also love Bombay Sapphire. Each has a different flavor profile, but they both work nicely, as will your favorite brand.
- St-Germain is a French elderflower liqueur that makes a wildly amenable cocktail ingredient. Since its inception in 2007, it has become by far the most widely proliferated elderflower liqueur. The iconic bottle is designed to evoke Art Deco style, and the name harkens back to St-Germain-des-Prés, a Paris neighborhood synonymous with the Belle Époque and Art Deco movements. If you prefer, you can use Giffard Wild Elderflower Liqueur (Fleur de Sureau sauvage) or any other brand that you like.
- There’s no substitute for freshly squeezed lemon juice, which adds brightness and balance to this cocktail. You’ll also garnish the drink with a lemon twist cut from the peel.
- You’ll top things off with Champagne or another good sparkling wine. I typically use our favorite Chandon Brut, which is from California but shares a lot of the characteristics of a good midprice Champagne. You can use any sparkling wine that you enjoy drinking.
How to make it
Here’s an overview of what you’ll do to make an elderflower French 75 with St Germain. You can see the steps in action in the video that accompanies this post, and get all the details in the recipe card below.
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in the gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake well until very cold.
- Pour into a champagne flute.
- Top with champagne, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve. That’s it!
Expert tips and FAQs
For sure. To scale it up, stir together in a pitcher up to three hours before serving time: one cup gin, 3/4 cup St Germain, 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, pour in one whole bottle of Champagne. Pour into glasses, garnish each with a lemon twist, and serve. Makes eight drinks.
More favorite French 75 variations
Hungry for more?
Subscribe to Umami Girl’s email updates, and follow along on Instagram.
Elderflower French 75 with St Germain
Ingredients
- 1 ounce (30 ml) gin
- ¾ ounce (22 ml) St Germain elderflower liqueur
- ¾ ounce (22 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 ounces (90 ml) Champagne
- 1 lemon twist, to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Pour in gin, St Germain, and lemon juice.
- Shake well, until very cold.
- Strain gin mixture into a Champagne flute.
- Top with the Champagne.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.
Notes
- To batch this cocktail, stir together in a pitcher up to three hours before serving time: one cup gin, 3/4 cup St Germain, 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, pour in one whole bottle of Champagne. Pour into glasses, garnish each with a lemon twist, and serve. Makes eight drinks.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hungry for more?
Subscribe to Umami Girl’s email updates, and follow along on Instagram.
What is the purpose of the water for the Batch Recipe? Aren’t you just diluting?
Hi Robin, yes, that’s exactly what you’re doing! When you shake an individual cocktail, the ice in the shaker dilutes the drink a bit. It’s actually part of the recipe. When you batch, you need to replicate that effect for the cocktail to have the correct proportions.