An Elderflower Gin Fizz is a fun twist on the classic gin and tonic using elderflower and Prosecco as well as gin. It’s guaranteed to impress your friends.
What is Elderflower Gin Fizz?
A fresh and elegant gin and Prosecco cocktail, the Elderflower Gin Fizz is a four-ingredient drink that blends gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice and Italy’s famous sparkling wine, Prosecco. This cocktail can be put together pretty quickly, making it perfect for enjoying outside in the summer.
The delicate floral flavour of the elderflower is pretty subtle so you’re going to want to use good quality gin and Prosecco for this one.
What is Elderflower Liqueur
The main brand of elderflower liqueur is St Germain. It’s a French liqueur that is expertly crafted with over 1,000 hand-picked elderflower blooms in every bottle. Although it’s not as cheap and easy to find as gin, it’s worth having a bottle in your drinks cabinet. It enhances many light-flavoured cocktails. I’ve even added it to my cooking – try it in cupcake frosting. Divine! There are cheaper brands than St Germain so buy what your budget can afford.
Can you use Elderflower syrup or cordial instead?
Hey, it’s your cocktail so sure. If you want to make your Elderflower Gin Fizz less boozy or maybe you don’t have liqueur in your cupboard, then substituting it with elderflower syrup or cordial is your next best option. Tip: try halving the quantity to 15 ml / half an ounce as your syrup is likely to be sweeter. You can always add more (but you can’t take it out!). Also, keep in mind that syrup is often thicker and sweeter than cordial. If you want a lighter drink overall, why not try The Hugo cocktail which combines Prosecco, elderflower syrup and soda water.
Which Prosecco to use?
For some cocktails, the type and quality of Prosecco will make a noticeable difference to the drink. This is one of those instances. Two things to focus on are the sweetness of the Prosecco and the quality. For sweetness, I recommend buying an Extra Dry Prosecco, which is a little sweeter than the standard Brut Prosecco. This will pair well with the elderflower and lemon.
For quality, you want to get the best quality Prosecco you can afford. The most fool-proof way to do this is to look for the DOCG quality designation on the label. Most Prosecco is DOC, and DOCG is a higher quality. That said, if you can only find Brut DOC, your cocktail won’t be ruined. Promise! Read more: Prosecco Buying Guide.
Which gin to use?
I recommend Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire, in that order. Both are good, high-quality all-rounders that can easily elevate the delicate flavour of the elderflower. But, as you’ll come to realise from my cocktail recipes, I have a firm attitude that what you have in the cupboard at home is often good enough. If this becomes your new favourite drink, feel free to splurge on a premium gin. And if you really want to take things to the next level, you can create your own gin blend on a course in London. I’ve done it. It’s great fun.
Serving suggestions
- If you’re hosting a large party, you can prepare the lemon juice a day in advance. Just make sure it’s stored in a sealed container in your fridge.
- When you’re shaking the gin and elderflower in the cocktail shaker, don’t be too vigorous. The more chilled the drink, the more it will dull the flavour of the elderflower. A colder cocktail will also flatten the Prosecco bubbles very quickly. You don’t want to lose the fizz part of your drink!
- There are no rules when it comes to the correct cocktail glass. I like to go for an elegant glass like a tall flute or wide-brimmed Champagne glass. However, if you’re serving it as a gin and tonic substitute, then definitely bring out your best G&T glasses!
- Be mindful of your garnish. They’re there to decorate not to add flavour. So, don’t twirl the mint garnish too much and don’t crush any of the garnishes under the drink. They’ll taint the flavour too much.
More Prosecco cocktail recipes
You can find all my Prosecco cocktail recipes for all seasons here: Easy Prosecco Cocktail Recipes. Other Prosecco cocktail recipes you might like are:
Elderflower Gin Fizz Recipe
Elderflower Gin Fizz
An Elderflower Gin Fizz is a fun twist on the classic gin and tonic using gin, elderflower and Prosecco.
Ingredients
- 50ml / 1 ½ ounces Gin
- 30ml / 1 ounce Elderflower Liqueur
- 15ml / ½ ounce Lemon Juice
- Prosecco
- Lemon & Lime Slices
- Mint Leaves
Instructions
- Mix together the gin and elderflower liqueur in a shaker with ice.
- Shake.
- Pour into a glass.
- Top with Prosecco.
- Finish with the lemon, lime and mint garnish.