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This elderflower cocktail is a beautiful take on the classic French 75. Light, floral, fruity and refreshing, it's perfect for sipping al fresco during a backyard brunch.
There's nothing I love more than a fancy cocktail topped off with bubbles. This elderflower cocktail is delicious and ridiculously easy to make. The only *minorly* difficult part about it is the thyme syrup, but you can even cut that if you want too.
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What's a French 75?
A French 75 is a classic cocktail combining gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and champagne. We're keeping all of those ingredients but adding a few more flavors.
Fun Fact: the French 75 was apparently named after the 75mm Howitzer filed gun that the French and Americans used during World War One. The gun was known for it's speed and it's accuracy.
The drink is supposed to have the same "kick" that being shot with this gun would have? Honestly I don't even know anymore. The drink is really good though.
Elderflower Liquor
The most famous elderflower liquor (and really, the only) is St. Germain, and it's excellent. It's made by hand-picking elderflower petals and then macerating them with a neutral spirit within 48 hours of them being picked. The flavor is very much sweet, and floral (if this is in a drink, then I often don't even bother adding simple syrup to it). Many experts say that it really comes together to taste like lychee, which, swoon. If you're looking for substitutes, it's probably best to try and find and elderflower syrup.
Ingredients
I'm in love with the flavor combos in this elderflower cocktail. St. Germain combines so well with bubbly, you can really just add a shot of it to your Champagne for a great summer drink. Adding the lemon and gin brings a ton of brightness and citrus, picking up on some of the more hidden notes in the liqueur - and the earthy thyme balances everything out. Here's what you need:
- St. Germain
- Champagne, prosecco or cava (sparkling wine)
- Thyme simple syrup (thyme, sugar, water)
- Lemon Juice
- Gin
- Lemon peel and thyme sprig for garnish
And that's it!
How to Make a Elderflower Thyme 75
First, make your thyme simple syrup. Bring your sugar and water to a boil over medium high heat. Add 5-7 fresh thyme sprigs, and simmer for five minutes. Take off the heat and allow it to steep for another couple of hours.
Once the thyme syrup has cooled down, combine all the ingredients except the sparkling wine in a Boston shaker half filled with ice. Shake for 30-45 seconds, and pour into champagne glasses. Top off with the sparkling wine of your choice. Garnish with extra thyme and lemon peel.
Can You make These Ahead of time?
Yup. Just multiply the ingredients by the number of cocktails you need. Mix everything except the sparkling wine and the garnish in a large pitcher, and keep in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, equally pour the mixture into champagne flutes, and then top with your sparkling wine. Voila, you're ready to go!
More Gorgeous Spring Cocktails:
- Blood Orange Mimosas with Prosecco and Basil Simple Syrup
- Grapefruit Rosemary Gin Sour
- Spicy Pineapple Margaritas
- The Classic Dry Martini
- Easy Classic Negroni
📖 Recipe
Elderflower Thyme 75
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cocktail
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz elderflower liqueur
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz thyme simple syrup
- 1-2 oz sparkling wine such as prosecco or cava
- lemon peel garnish
- thyme garnish
For the Simple Syrup
- 1 C water
- 1 C sugar
- 5-7 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
Make the Cocktail
- Combine the gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake for 30-45 seconds. Pour into a Champagne flute.
- Top with sparkling wine, garnish with lemon twist and thyme.
Make the Simple Syrup
- Bring the water and sugar to a boil over medium high heat. Add the thyme, and simmer for five minutes. Take off the heat, let it continue to steep for a few hours. Strain, and keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Hi, I'm Cara! I'm a food writer, journalist, and recipe developer. I'm obsessed good food, good wine, good cocktails and entertaining. I've picked up a few tips over the years, and love sharing them with others.
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