Refreshing Gin Grapefruit Cocktail with Elderflower

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Full of fresh-squeezed juice and just enough sweetness, this easy Gin Grapefruit Cocktail with Elderflower is the perfect drink for your afternoon happy hour.

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Ingredients
How to Make a Gin Grapefruit Cocktail with Elderflower
Recipe Tips
Try These Elderflower Cocktails
Tips on a Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail
Happy Hour Snack Pairings
More Delicious Cocktail Recipes You'll Love
Print the Recipe
Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail

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. This delicious recipe is the perfect way to enjoy a hot day or celebrate any number of special occasions.

The color of your Gin Grapefruit Cocktail with Elderflower 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.

Ingredients

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

How to Make a Gin Grapefruit Cocktail with Elderflower

Combine gin, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and fresh grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker full of ice cubes.

Lime juice being poured into a cocktail shaker.

Shake it up!

Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.

Garnish with a slice of grapefruit. Sip and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

Make your simple syrup an hour or two ahead of time so it can cool completely before you’re ready to make the cocktail. Heat ¼ cup hot water to boiling, then add in ¼ cup white sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Refrigerate until ready to use. >Read More about making Simple Syrup
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.

Try These Elderflower Cocktails

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

Apple Orchard Cocktail being poured into a coupe glass. — Apple Orchard Cocktail

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 store bought 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.

What else can I use for garnish?

Fresh herbs go so well with gin. Use a couple fresh thyme sprigs or small rosemary sprigs to really dress up this pink grapefruit gin cocktail.

Happy Hour Snack Pairings

Honey, Walnut, and Goat Cheese Phyllo Cup Appetizers — Honey, Walnut, and Goat Cheese Phyllo Cups

More Delicious Cocktail Recipes You'll Love

Print the Recipe

Grapefruit and Elderflower Gin Cocktail

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

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.