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    Home » Drinks » Whiskey & Bourbon

    Updated: Dec 14, 2020 · Published: Nov 15, 2018 by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Bourbon Elderflower Cocktails

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Bourbon Elderflower cocktail in a low ball glass filled with ice, garnished with a lemon peel and on a black slate tray.

    Shake up your happy hour with these Bourbon Elderflower Cocktails! These easy, four-ingredient bourbon drinks please everyone and are perfectly sippable any time of year!

    Cocktail in a low ball glass.

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    Some bourbon drinks are seasonal.

    For example, when the weather turns cold, we gravitate toward heartier flavors like in our BEST Old-Fashioned recipe or this Manhattan cocktail recipe.

    In hot weather, you can bet we'll be sipping on a refreshing (and ridiculously simple) Whiskey Ginger drink.

    But this Bourbon Elderflower Cocktail is our favorite bourbon drink for any time of year.

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • More bourbon drinks
    • Recipe

    Why this recipe works

    Some people might be skeptical of combining strong flavors like bourbon and elderflower. But just like the old saying, "opposites attract", these two spirits complement each other beautifully.

    A little bit of tart lemon juice and smooth simple syrup adds up to a well-balanced cocktail that doesn't taste overly boozy like some bourbon drinks can be.

    Ingredients

    There are only 4 ingredients needed for this cocktail:

    Cocktail ingredients including bourbon and elderflower liqueur.

    Tip: Fresh lemon juice is a MUST with this recipe. We're lucky to have a grocery store that stocks freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice, which is great for parties or when we need a larger amount of juice. Just making one or two drinks? We're always reaching for our handheld juicer. This handy tool gives us freshly squeezed juice on a moment's notice.

    Instructions

    No fancy cocktail knowledge is required to make this drink. Just a little muscle power for shaking it!

    Pouring drink ingredients into cocktail shaker.
    Hand pouring ingredients into cocktail shaker.

    Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients to it.

    Hand on cocktail shaker and pouring drink into glass.

    Shake drink for at least 20 seconds. Strain into low ball glass filled with ice.

    Cocktails on a slate board.

    FAQs

    What is elderflower liqueur?


    This liqueur is made from the small white flowers of the elderberry bush. It's delicate, floral flavor gives a soft freshness to cocktails without being overly perfume-y.

    Want to learn more? Don't miss our post dedicated to all things elderflower liqueur, including an ever-growing list of cocktails that use it!

    Can you make these drinks as a batch cocktail for a crowd?


    Yes! Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of drinks you think you'll need, combine in a large pitcher and store in the fridge until ready to serve. A quick stir is all that's needed before pouring over ice-filled low ball glasses.

    4 lowball glasses filled with ice and cocktails.

    More bourbon drinks

    If you like this Bourbon Elderflower Cocktail, you might want to give one of these other recipes try:

    • This Gold Rush cocktail - made with ginger liqueur - is strong, spicy and guaranteed to warm you up from the inside out.
    • Do you have a bottle of Aperol that you're not sure how to use? Try these Bourbon & Aperol Cocktails. A splash of Prosecco keeps them fresh and an orange wedge adds a hint of fruitiness. (Plus that color!!)
    • One of our favorite fall cocktails is this recipe for Apple Cider Drinks. Made with bourbon, applejack and an infused simple syrup, these always disappear.
    • Bubbles make everything better - like in this Sparkling Bourbon Pear Cocktail.
    • We added meyer lemon juice to this whiskey sour recipe for a fresh take on a classic. Want a more seasonal spin? Try our Cranberry Whiskey Sour cocktail.

    Recipe

    Bourbon Elderflower Cocktails

    Garnish With Lemon
    These easy, 4-ingredient Bourbon Elderflower Cocktails make a tasty signature cocktail for your next party.
    4.59 from 103 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Whiskey/Bourbon
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 cocktail
    Calories 258 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 ounces bourbon
    • ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
    • ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
    • ½ ounce simple syrup
    • lemon peel, optional garnish

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    Instructions
     

    • Place bourbon, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice and simple syrup in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake to combine.
      2 ounces bourbon, ½ ounce elderflower liqueur, ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice, ½ ounce simple syrup
    • Pour cocktail into a low ball glass filled with ice. Garnish with lemon peel, if desired.
      lemon peel,

    Notes

    You can easily make this recipe as a batch cocktail. Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you need, combine in a pitcher and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4ouncesCalories: 258kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 14mgPotassium: 115mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!

    Everyone always asks for the recipe when we serve these Bourbon Elderflower Cocktails. A bit of elderflower liqueur keeps these bourbon drinks fresh and light - perfect for any party!

    « Easy Pulled Pork Recipe
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    About Anna

    Hi, I’m Anna, a former corporate communications nerd turned food fanatic. Turns out I like cooking for others A LOT more than explaining HR policies to them. C’mon over!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Calie says

      January 02, 2021 at 4:44 pm

      2 tsp of agave to replace the simple syrup - delish!

      Reply
    2. Ann says

      November 27, 2020 at 6:31 pm

      The only reason I gave this 4 out of 5 is because I didn't follow the recipe exactly. I went with 1/2 oz instead of 3/4 oz lemon juice & it was great!

      Reply
    3. Melody says

      August 03, 2020 at 8:31 am

      I’m new to cocktails and just discovered Gin by way of Hendricks Midsummer Solstice. I’ve been loving cocktails using this gin and St Germaine. I would like to branch out now to bourbon cocktails..what brand/style would you recommend for a newbie?

      Reply
      • Anna says

        August 03, 2020 at 11:09 am

        Hi Melody, bourbon is so subjective but we're big fans of Bulleit as it's readily available at any liquor store. Cheers!

        Reply
      • Bethy says

        November 08, 2020 at 12:19 pm

        Give Four Roses Bourbon a try!

        Reply
    4. Erich Cervantez says

      October 02, 2019 at 11:33 pm

      And don't forget the simple syrup! Otherwise it'll give you pucker face 😉

      Reply
      • suede722 says

        November 27, 2019 at 9:21 pm

        I tried it with honey simple syrup instead of sugar simple syrup. YUM.

        Reply
        • Anna says

          December 01, 2019 at 10:25 am

          Fun twist, Erich. Love it!

        • Dwayne says

          September 21, 2021 at 5:41 pm

          4 stars
          Its a delicious drink. The reason I did not give it 5 stars is because instead of simple syrup, I use my version of simple syrup, which is equal parts honey and "Domaine De Canton Ginger Liqueur".

          I don't use store bought honey, use unpasteurized and unfiltered honey. Yeah it cost more, but its worth it. You can get 5lbs of real unprocessed honey off of Amazon for $35. The "Domaine De Canton Ginger Liqueur is also expensive, but fresh squeeze some lemons and try my recipe, and taste the freshness!

    5. Lynne says

      February 28, 2019 at 6:00 pm

      This drink is fantastic! First time trying elderflower. It was amazing- gave the drink a tart and citrusy feel. This will be added to my menu of personal favorites.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        March 01, 2019 at 7:46 am

        So glad you enjoyed it, Lynne! It's definitely one of my go-to cold weather cocktails.

        Reply
    Newer Comments »
    4.59 from 103 votes (100 ratings without comment)

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