Light and refreshing with a subtle hint of floral, this Elderflower Grapefruit Spritzer is the perfect patio drink for the long, hot days of summer!
It’s no secret that I absolutely love cocktails, but sometimes I want something just a little bit lighter. This drink was born out of a desire to satisfy those cocktail cravings on hot summer afternoons without worrying about all that alcohol affecting you in the heat. This cocktail is also great for when you have guests that prefer a lighter drink than your average cocktail.
A spritzer is traditionally white wine mixed with sparkling water, first popularized in Austria. This drink is a play on that classic beverage with a fruity twist. The result is a super refreshing drink with the perfect amount of sweetness and a delightfully floral bouquet!
Ingredient Notes
Elderflower Liqueur: My go to elderflower liqueur brand is St-Germain. In fact, it was St-Germain that first sparked my love affair with floral cocktails. Sweet with an intoxicating fruity and floral bouquet, each bottle of St-Germain contains the essence of up to 1,000 elderflower blossoms. Creating the liqueur is extremely time sensitive. There is only a very short window of three to four weeks each spring when the blossoms can be harvested. Carefully gathered by hand, the blossoms infuse their aroma into warm water before being filtered and blended together. The liqueur is finished by blending the infusion with spirits and sugar to create their signature flavour.
St-Germain is the only alcohol in this recipe which makes it easy to turn this drink completely alcohol free. Simply substitute an elderflower cordial for the St-Germain and you have a delicious tasting mocktail that is sure to become a favourite!
Grapefruit juice: I like to use ruby red grapefruit juice when making this cocktail. It has the perfect balance of sweetness and tang that works so well with the elderflower.
Sparkling water: Feel free to use any kind of sparkling water you prefer. I like to use San Pellegrino but really any sparkling water will work. The amount of sparkling water you add to the cocktail is entirely up to you. The measurements for the grapefruit juice and elderflower liqueur create a nice balanced flavour, so the amount of sparkling water you add really depends on how strong you prefer your drink.
Substitute alcohol: If you find this cocktail to be a little too light for your taste, then you can easily substitute the sparkling water for a sparkling wine or prosecco. The combination of grapefruit, elderflower, and prosecco is reminiscent of a mimosa and is an equally enjoyable summer beverage!
How to Make Elderflower Grapefruit Spritzer
This is a pretty simple recipe, which is perfect for entertaining! Fill a wine glass half full of ice cubes. Add the grapefruit juice and elderflower liqueur. Top with the sparkling water and give it a stir to blend. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and you’re ready to kick back and enjoy the sun!
More Refreshing Cocktails
If you love refreshing fruity and floral cocktails, try out these recipes:
