Elderflower spritz
Elderflower cordial, lemon and sparkling wine over ice. Floral, light and ready in two minutes.
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Wine glass
- Strength
- Alcohol-free
How to make an elderflower spritz
- Fill with ice. Fill a wine glass with ice and tuck the cucumber slices against the sides.
- Add cordial and lemon. Pour in the elderflower cordial and lemon juice. Stir for 5 seconds so they are mixed.
- Top with sparkling wine. Pour the sparkling wine in slowly. Stir once, gently, so the bubbles stay.
- Finish with mint. Smack the mint sprig between your palms and set it on top. Taste it: it should be floral first, then sharp.
- Glass
- Wine glassNo wine glass? Any large stemless glass.
- Ice
- Ice cubes
- Garnish
- Mint sprig and cucumber slicesOr: A lemon wheel.
What you need to make an elderflower spritz
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
Bottles we'd use
- Elderflower cordialBelvoir or Bottlegreen are easy to find and not over-sweet.Find it on Amazon
- Alcohol-free sparkling wineA dry one balances the cordial best.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Elderflower spritz variations and swaps
The nearest alcoholic cousin is a Hugo, usually made with Prosecco, elderflower syrup, soda water and mint. To get close, use 100 ml of Prosecco in place of the alcohol-free wine. For a stronger spritz, add 25 ml of gin. Lime juice works in place of lemon, and thin apple slices can stand in for the cucumber. No sparkling wine at all? Top with 100 ml of dry tonic water for a bitter edge. Hosting eight? Stir 320 ml of cordial and 120 ml of lemon juice in a jug and chill it. Pour 55 ml into each glass before topping with 100 ml of sparkling wine.
The elderflower spritz story
Elderflower cordial is a British hedgerow tradition: elder blossom steeped in sugar syrup in early summer. Making it into a spritz follows the Italian habit of long, bubbly aperitivo drinks. The pairing is a modern one with no known inventor.
The risk with elderflower is sweetness. Lemon takes care of that, and cucumber adds a cool, green edge. Add the sparkling wine last and pour gently so it stays lively. Use a brut or extra-brut style if you can find one.
Elderflower spritz: your questions answered
What is in an elderflower spritz?
An elderflower spritz is made with 40 ml elderflower cordial, 15 ml fresh lemon juice and 100 ml alcohol-free sparkling wine. Garnish: mint sprig and cucumber slices.
Is this elderflower spritz alcohol-free?
Yes. This elderflower spritz is made without any alcoholic ingredients, though alcohol-free spirits and sparkling wines can still contain a trace of alcohol, so check the label if you need to avoid it completely.
What glass do you serve an elderflower spritz in?
Serve an elderflower spritz in a wine glass over ice. No wine glass? Any large stemless glass.
