This Elderflower Collins is a classic Tom collins with a floral twist! The perfect spring or summer cocktail made with just 5 simple ingredients and ready in under 5 minutes!
A classic cocktail with a twist - what's not to love? You can skip the cocktail shaker, we like to mix this up in a tall glass and layer in the ingredients for a delightful presentation.
Looking for more delicious gin cocktails? Try some gin drinks with floral notes, like this lovely lavender gin cocktail, and this love potion cocktail.
You may also like this blueberry gin cocktail, this blood orange gin cocktail, this pomegranate gin cocktail, or this Floradora cocktail!
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❤️Why we love this recipe
- Delicious. The perfect blend of citrusy, floral, and earthy, the flavors in this drink blend perfectly!
- Refreshing. This drink is light and refreshing, making it perfect for warmer weather.
- Quick and easy. Make this cocktail at home easily, you don't even need a cocktail shaker! This recipe comes together in under 5 minutes.
- Perfect for entertaining. Whether you're making a quick drink for yourself or entertaining guests, this drink is perfect.
🍋Ingredients
Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.
- Lemon juice
- Elderflower liqueur - Like St. Germain.
- Simple syrup
- Gin - We used stunning Empress 1908 Gin, which has a lovely botanical flavor and indigo hue. Any dry gin will work.
- Soda water or club soda
- Lemon slice, wheel, or lemon wedges for garnish
Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.
✨Substitutions & variations
Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.
- Add more fun garnishes. If available to you and in season, elderflower blossoms would make a stunning garnish! They aren't very easy for us to find in Chicago, so we opted for baby's breath. A sprig of mint, basil, or thyme would also accompany the drink nicely.
- Add fruity flavor. Add a spoonful of your favorite berry jam, or even pear puree for a nice added touch of fruity flavor.
- Swap the citrus. Feel free to swap lemon for lime juice if you prefer.
- Use sparkling wine instead of soda water. For an extra boozy twist, top the drinks with sparkling wine like cava, prosecco, champagne, or even Moscato if you like sweet drinks.
🔪Prep work
- Squeeze lemon juice.
- Cut lemon rounds.
- Measure out all remaining ingredients.
📋Instructions
Add simple syrup and lemon juice to an ice-filled highball glass. (Image 1)
Add in the elderflower liqueur. (Image 2)
Top the drink with soda water. (Image 3)
Add gin. (Image 4)
Garnish with baby's breath flowers for a beautiful presentation! Please note: Baby's breath flowers are not edible, so don't ingest them!
✨Tips & tricks
- Sweeten to taste. If making this drink for the first time, add more simple syrup to suit your personal preferences.
- Stir before enjoying. We love to layer this drink in the glass, as it creates a really cool presentation with the Empress gin, but make sure to mix it up with a bar spoon before enjoying it, or all the gin will be at the top of the glass.
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💭Frequently Asked Questions
We don't recommend fully preparing this drink ahead of time. However, you can squeeze fresh lemon juice and keep it in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days ahead of time. You can also cut lemon wedges or slices a day or so in advance.
Yes, it can with a few considerations. Add the lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, and gin to a pitcher or punch bowl and stir to mix.
Make sure you wait to add the soda water or club soda until right before serving, or it will go flat. We recommend pouring the mixture over ice in glasses, rather than adding glass to the punch bowl or pitcher, as this can water the drink down. Enjoy!
Yes! Traditionally, this drink is made in a cocktail shaker. To make it, add the elderflower liqueur, gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, and strain into ice-filled glasses, then top with soda water.
We chose to mix this cocktail in the glass to make beautiful layers in the drink, but this isn't a traditional method.
More Recipes To Consider
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📖 Recipe
Elderflower Collins
Equipment
- collins or highball glasses
- bar spoon
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces gin
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces club soda
Instructions
- Add lemon juice, simple syrup, elderflower liqueur, and gin to a highball glass filled with ice.
- Top with soda water and stir to meld together.
- Garnish with lemon round and optional flowers. Enjoy!
Notes
- Sweeten to taste. If making this drink for the first time, add more simple syrup to suit your personal preferences.
- Stir before enjoying. We love to layer this drink in the glass, as it creates a really cool presentation with the Empress gin, but make sure to mix it up with a bar spoon before enjoying it, or all the gin will be at the top of the glass.
- To make a large batch: Add the lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, and gin to a pitcher or punch bowl and stir to mix. Make sure you wait to add the soda water or club soda until right before serving, or it will go flat. We recommend pouring the mixture over ice in glasses, rather than adding glass to the punch bowl or pitcher, as this can water the drink down.
- To make this drink in a cocktail shaker: Traditionally, this drink is made in a cocktail shaker. To make it, add the elderflower liqueur, gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, and strain into ice-filled glasses, then top with soda water. We chose to mix this cocktail in the glass to make beautiful layers in the drink, but this isn't a traditional method.
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