Refreshing Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail

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Full of fresh-squeezed juice and just enough sweetness, this easy Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail is a delicious addition to your afternoon happy hour.

Elderflower liqueur is extremely sweet with a slightly floral taste, so it pairs very well with tart grapefruit and herbaceous gin. With only 5 ingredients, this cocktail is quick to shake up so you can get to enjoying your sip even faster.

The color of your Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail will vary a bit based on whether you use a red (pink grapefruit juice) or white grapefruit. Pick whichever fruit you prefer and/or is easily available in your local market. Red grapefruit are sweeter, so you may need to increase the simple syrup by 0.25oz if you use white grapefruit.

What You Need

Ingredients and tools for grapefruit and elderflower cocktails

Your favorite gin (Mine’s New Holland Knickerbocker)
Elderflower liqueur (I use St. Germain)
Simple syrup
A lime
A grapefruit

How to Make It

Make your simple syrup an hour or two ahead of time so it can cool completely before you’re ready to make the cocktail. Get instructions for simple syrup - and how to cool it faster if needed! - on my DIY Cocktail Syrups page.

Juice the grapefruit and lime into separate small bowls. Roll the lime on your counter, applying pressure with your palm, to release all of its juice before you cut into it. (You don’t need to do this with the grapefruit.)

You can strain the lime and grapefruit juices to remove all the pulp if that bothers you. If you don’t mind a little pulp in your drink, you can skip it.

Tips on a Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail

What kind of gin should I use?

I love using a gin with lots of flavor in this recipe. My pick is New Holland’s Knickerbocker Gin. Bombay Gin would also be delicious in this recipe, but feel free to choose your favorite.

Can I use bottled grapefruit juice or lime juice?

Fresh juice is important in this drink. You should only need 1 grapefruit and 1 lime to make this cocktail. Bottled juices have additives, sweeteners, and colorings in them that change the flavor compared to squeezing the fruit. With only 5 ingredients - 2 of them being fruit juices - using fresh juice makes a big difference.

What kind of elderflower liqueur should I use?

I use St. Germain, which is easy to find in my area, but feel free to use whatever brand of elderflower liqueur you prefer.

Try These Elderflower Cocktails

Looking for more drinks to make using elderflower liqueur? Here are two of my favorites:

Apple Orchard Cocktail

Elderflower Margaritas

Happy Hour Snack Pairing

Enjoy your Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail with some fresh and creamy Avocado Corn Salsa.

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Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail

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Full of fresh-squeezed juice and just enough sweetness, this easy Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail is a delicious addition to your afternoon happy hour.