Elderflower Gin Prosecco Cocktail

Have you ever sipped a cocktail and immediately started thinking about when you can make it again? That's what this Elderflower Gin Prosecco Cocktail does to me. The elderflower liqueur softens the botanicals in the gin into something floral and almost honeyed, the prosecco lifts everything up, and the sugar-rimmed coupe gives every sip just a little extra sweetness. It's the kind of drink that gets requested at every party I bring it to.

What Makes this different

The elderflower liqueur is what makes this cocktail work: it brings a light honeyed floral note that softens the botanicals in the gin into something more delicate and balanced. This is my go-to for holiday parties and any gathering where I want something that feels special without requiring a lot of effort. It comes together in five minutes, and the sugar-rimmed coupe is non-negotiable: each sip picks up just enough sweetness to round out the lime.

Prosecco being poured into a coupe glass with a sugared rim.

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What Makes this different
Ingredients
Instructions
My Best Tips
FAQ
More Elderlfower Cocktails
Recipe
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Ingredients

elderflower, superfine sugar, limes, prosecco and gin on a black surface.

Ingredient notes

Gin. The gin's flavor does come through here, so your choice matters more than it might in a drink with a lot of competing ingredients. A heavily juniper-forward gin will compete with the elderflower. Something with floral or citrus notes lets the elderflower do its thing. Beyond that, use what you love.
Elderflower liqueur. St-Germain is the most widely available brand and what I reach for. One thing worth knowing if you're shopping: elderflower liqueur and elderflower cordial are not the same thing. The liqueur is alcoholic and syrup-concentrated with a more pronounced floral flavor. The cordial is non-alcoholic and much lighter. They're not interchangeable in this recipe without adjusting the whole drink.
Prosecco. Prosecco tends to be fruitier and lighter than Champagne, which pairs well with the floral elderflower. An Extra Dry Prosecco leans slightly sweeter than Brut and plays nicely with the elderflower and sugar rim. Either works.
Lime wedges. Fresh only. The lime does two jobs: the juice brightens the whole drink and keeps it from skewing sweet, and the wedge is what you use to wet the rim before the sugar. Don't skip it.
Superfine sugar. Also sold as caster sugar. The finer crystals adhere more evenly to the glass rim than regular granulated sugar. Regular sugar works in a pinch but the rim will be chunkier and less uniform.

Cocktails in coupe glasses with sugar rims and a lime wedge for garnish.

Instructions

coupe glass inverted on sugar rimmed plate.

RIM

Rim a coupe or wide martini glass with a lime wedge, then press the rim into superfine sugar. Set the glass aside.

Gin being poured into shaker filled with ice.

Measure

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the gin and elderflower liqueur.

Shake

Shake well to combine and chill.

Prosecco being poured into a sugar rimmed coupe glass.

Strain

Strain into the prepared glass, top with prosecco, and squeeze in a lime wedge. Serve immediately.

My Best Tips

Use a wide glass, not a flute. The sugar rim is a functional part of this drink, not just decoration. You need surface area. In a flute, the rim is gone in the first two sips. A coupe or wide martini glass is what makes it work.

Shake only the gin and elderflower. Shaking anything carbonated flattens it. The shake is for the gin and elderflower liqueur only. The prosecco goes in after, added gently as a top.

Squeeze the lime into the drink. It's listed as a garnish but the juice is what balances everything. The elderflower and sugar rim both bring sweetness. The lime is the counterweight. Without it, the drink tips too sweet.

Superfine sugar sticks better. If you only have regular granulated sugar, it still works. The rim will just be less even. Superfine (caster) sugar is worth picking up if you're making these for a crowd.

Make it by the glass, not by the batch. This scales well for a party, but mix it ahead in a pitcher and you'll lose the bubbles. Combine the gin and elderflower liqueur in a measuring cup beforehand, then shake and pour each drink to order. Two minutes per drink and your guests get the full experience.

Gin Cocktail in a sugar rimmed glass with a fresh lime wedge.

FAQ

Can I use elderflower cordial instead of elderflower liqueur?

Not as a straight swap. Cordial is non-alcoholic and much lighter in flavor, so it changes both the strength and the taste of the drink. If you want to use cordial, you'd need to rework the proportions and you'd end up with a different, lower-alcohol cocktail.

What kind of glass should I use?

A coupe or wide martini glass. Skip the flutes. The sugar rim is part of the experience and needs a wide rim to work properly. Bonus: a coupe shows off the color of the drink beautifully. And don't stress about a matching set if you're entertaining. Different styles of martini glasses and coupes all work, and guests remember which glass they chose.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Sort of. Combine the gin and elderflower liqueur in a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve. When guests arrive, shake individual portions with ice and top each one with prosecco to order. That's the only way to keep the bubbles. Once poured, serve immediately.

Lime wedge being dunked in coupe glasses that are rimmed with sugar and filled and extra lime wedges for garnishes.

More Elderlfower Cocktails

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