Difficulty
Easy
St-Germain Cocktail Recipe
A practical St-Germain cocktail recipe guide with floral builds, ratios, and pairing ideas.
Updated: 2026-09-18
01 Ingredients
02 Method
Shake St-Germain, gin, and lemon juice with ice.
Strain into a chilled wine glass with fresh ice.
Top with dry sparkling wine.
Stir gently and garnish with lemon peel.
St-Germain cocktail recipe with structure, not just sweetness
Elderflower cocktails usually fail the same way: they lean sweet and thin, and after three sips the perfume is all you can taste. Brightness from lemon and structure from gin keep the floral notes elegant.
Flavor profile
St-Germain is a sauternes-style elderflower liqueur at around 20% ABV, with lychee, pear and a musky floral aroma. Gin gives it a juniper spine, lemon cuts the sugar, and dry sparkling wine adds acidity and lift.
Ratio logic
- 1.5 oz St-Germain for aroma.
- 1 oz gin for backbone.
- 0.5 oz lemon to sharpen.
- 2 oz sparkling wine for lift.
| Parts | St-Germain | Gin | Lemon juice | Sparkling wine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One serve | 45 ml / 1.5 oz | 30 ml / 1 oz | 15 ml / 0.5 oz | 60 ml / 2 oz |
| Pitcher, 6 serves | 270 ml / 9 oz | 180 ml / 6 oz | 90 ml / 3 oz | 360 ml / 12 oz |
For a pitcher, batch the first three ingredients cold and add the wine as you pour. For a lighter style, cut the St-Germain to 1 oz.
How strong is it?
St-Germain at 20% contributes 9 ml of pure alcohol, the gin adds 12 ml and the sparkling wine about 7 ml. That is roughly 19% ABV before shaking and around 16% in the glass. Count on roughly 200 kcal.
Technique
Shake the St-Germain, gin and lemon hard for 12 seconds, then strain into a chilled wine glass over fresh ice. Top with the wine and lift once with a barspoon; stirring knocks the bubbles out. Express a lemon peel.
Where this fits in your menu
It bridges guests who want a spritz and guests who want a proper cocktail, and it suits salty snacks before dinner.
Named variations
- St-Germain Cocktail — 45 ml St-Germain, 60 ml sparkling wine and 60 ml soda over ice, no gin.
- Hugo Spritz — prosecco, elderflower syrup, soda and mint.
- French 75 — gin, lemon and champagne; swap the syrup for St-Germain to make it floral.
St-Germain FAQ
What can I mix with St-Germain?
Gin, sparkling wine, soda, citrus, and fresh herbs are the most reliable partners.
Is St-Germain very sweet?
It is sweet, but with floral acidity. Balance it with dry wine, citrus, or spirit.
Can I make this in a jug for a party?
Yes. Batch the shaken part up to four hours ahead; add the sparkling wine per glass so it stays fizzy.
Goes well with
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