Elderflower Gimlet
Gin, elderflower liqueur and fresh lime, shaken. The Gimlet with St-Germain doing the sweetening — floral, bright and the drink that sold a million bottles of elderflower liqueur.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Chill a coupe.
Add the gin, elderflower liqueur and lime juice to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
Double strain into the chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel.
A thoughtful finish
- No extra sugar; the liqueur is the sweetener.
- A quarter-ounce of simple syrup if your limes are very sharp.
- A cucumber slice in the shake is a good addition.
Common mistakes
- Adding syrup on top of the liqueur, which is cloying.
- Bottled lime.
- Too much liqueur, which drowns the gin.
A few good questions.
What does an Elderflower Gimlet taste like?
A bright gin-and-lime sour with a floral, pear-like sweetness.
How is it different from a Gimlet?
Elderflower liqueur replaces the lime cordial or sugar.
Which gin?
A London dry for backbone; a floral gin (Hendrick's, Bloom) leans into the elderflower.
Can I use vodka?
Yes; lighter and more about the elderflower.
Variations
- Gimlet — Gin and lime.
- Elderflower Collins — Gin, elderflower, lemon and soda.
- Hugo Spritz — Elderflower, prosecco, mint and soda.
- Southside — Gin, lime, sugar and mint.
Where it comes from
c. 2008 · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
St-Germain elderflower liqueur launched in 2007 and within a year bartenders had put it everywhere, which earned it the nickname ‘bartender’s ketchup’; the Elderflower Gimlet was one of the first and best uses — the Gimlet’s gin and lime with the liqueur in place of sugar or cordial, so the sweetener brings a floral, pear-and-lychee perfume of its own. It is a shaken sour in the modern manner, with fresh lime, and it suits a floral or citrusy gin. The liqueur is 20% and sweet, so three-quarters of an ounce replaces both the syrup and some of the spirit. It has become a standard brunch and summer drink and a gateway to the Gimlet proper.
Sources
- Difford's Guide, Elderflower Gimlet, 2010 (reference)
- Punch, St-Germain Cocktails, 2017 (reference)
- Liquor.com, Elderflower Gimlet, 2019 (reference)
Strength. About 1.72 US standard drinks at an estimated 23.5% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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