Elderflower and Sparkling Wine Cocktail

October 1, 2012

When I went out to dinner with some friends recently we set out to order a jug of their cocktail special featuring St Germain. St Germain is a liqueur made from elderflowers. I got pretty excited for this cocktail after watching my favourite chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall make champagne from elderflowers on River Cottage.

Unfortunately, they’d run out of St Germain.

Sad face.

So a week later, when I’d invited the same friends over for dinner, I hit a brainwave while trawling this month’s Delicious magazine for inspiration.

I’d make my own elderflower cocktail.

I followed the recipe provided in Delicious and although it was a cocktail using elderflower cordial rather than elderflower licqueur, the verdict around the table was that it was delicious.

It’s so simple. All you need to do is add two tablespoons of elderflower cordial to a champagne glass, top up with champagne and garnish with a fresh raspberry.

I didn’t have fresh raspberries, so I used frozen ones which I think worked out well anyway as they doubled as ice. I put a small handful of frozen raspberries in my glass first to cool the cordial as I poured it over them.

You might be wondering, as I was, where on earth you find elderflower cordial.

Believe it or not, I found it in the cordial section in Woolworths.

It’s pretty expensive though – this 500ml bottle cost me $7. (So pretty though!)

All in all, it was a very simple, quick and delicious cocktail enjoyed by all. It’s a great spring drink and an interesting variation on the usual Bellini or Mimosa.

Would I make it again? Definitely.