Elderflower Collins Recipe
Written by This simple Elderflower Collins recipe will refresh your senses! With gin, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, and club soda, this floral cocktail is perfect for a delightful spring.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 214
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- ¾ oz elderflower Liqueur
- 3-4 oz soda water - to top
- Lemon zest twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Collins Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Cocktail Shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
- Fine strainer
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill a Collins glass with ice cubes. Give it a stir to chill it and set it aside.
- Add Lemon Juice: Squeeze 1 oz fresh lemon juice into the shaker.
- Add Elderflower Liqueur: Measure and pour ¾ oz elderflower Liqueur into the shaker.
- Add Gin: Pour 2 oz Gin into the shaker.
- Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice, close it, and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
- Strain: Take the Collins glass and use the cocktail strainer to remove any excess water inside. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture into the ice-filled glass.
- Top with Soda: Top up the glass with 3-4 oz soda water and stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with a lemon zest twist: express the lemon zest on top of the glass and place it on the rim of the glass or discard it.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Gin: If you don't have gin, vodka is a great alternative but keep in mind that it will alter the flavor profile.
- Elderflower Liqueur: If you need help finding elderflower liqueur, St. Germain is a popular, widely available brand. Alternatively, you can make your own elderflower syrup by simmering elderflowers with sugar and water.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: In a pinch, bottled lemon juice can work, but fresh is always best. If you're out of lemons, try lime juice for a slightly different, but still delicious, flavor.
Making a Pitcher of Elderflower Collins:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of gin, 8 oz of elderflower liqueur, and 8 oz of fresh lemon juice.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice. Stir well.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into individual ice-filled Collins glasses, top with soda water, garnish with lemon zest, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Gin Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic gin substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic gin's botanicals.
- Elderflower Liqueur Substitute: Opt for an elderflower cordial or syrup instead of the alcoholic version.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.