Elderflower Collins
A floral gin Collins with crisp lemon, elderflower sweetness and a sparkling splash of soda water.
Ingredients
- Gin, botanical and of good quality45 ml
- Elderflower liqueure.g. St-Germain15 ml
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed30 ml
- Simple syrup, adjust to taste (1 part Sugar, 1 part Water)15 ml
- Soda water, coldtop up
- Lemon, to garnish (optional)1 wheel
- Mint, to garnish (optional)1 sprig
Method
- Fill a highball or Collins glass two-thirds full with ice cubes.
- Add the gin, fresh lemon juice, elderflower liqueur and syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 10–15 seconds, until the shaker is ice-cold.
- Strain into the prepared glass over the ice.
- Top up gently with cold soda water to preserve the bubbles.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and a sprig of fresh mint or edible flowers.
- Serve at once, while it is cold and lightly sparkling.
About this drink
The Elderflower Collins is a modern offshoot of the classic Tom Collins, born when the elderflower liqueur St-Germain took the bar world by storm in the 2000s. Where the original leans on simple citrus and sugar, elderflower adds a perfumed, summery layer that sits beautifully with gin's botanicals. The drink has become a summer-bar staple precisely because it is so easy to restyle: with limonata instead of soda water, or with fresh mint and edible flowers as a garnish.
Questions and answers
Can you replace the elderflower liqueur?
St-Germain is the standard, but any elderflower liqueur or cordial works. Just use less syrup if your version is already sweet, so the drink does not become cloying.
Can you prepare Elderflower Collins for a crowd?
Mix the gin, lemon, liqueur and syrup in a jug in advance, but wait with the ice and soda water until just before serving. Otherwise the drink loses its fizz and turns watery.
