Home · Recipes · Drinks · Cocktails Blood Orange Elderflower Gin Cocktail Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Feb 25, 2016Updated: May 20, 2021 View Recipe31 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. The refreshing elderflower gin cocktail gets a pop of color and flavor from the addition of blood orange juice. I can’t get enough of the prettiness that is blood orange. Every year when they make their appearance, I load up on pounds and pounds of this beautiful and delicious fruit. While there are numerous varieties, the moro blood orange is my favorite. It’s the super rich crimson ones I used for this blood orange elderflower gin cocktail. Blood Orange Gin Cocktail Without the blood orange juice, this cocktail looks so dainty and very spring-like. It looks like the kind of cocktail served at a ladies brunch held in some well manicured garden. It tastes very clean and fresh, almost like a white sangria. There’s something so exciting about adding in the blood orange juice. When is blood orange season? In California, blood oranges are available from December through April/May. The exact range depends on the variety of blood orange. Once you pour in the juice, the cocktail comes to life. It becomes alive with vibrancy and allure. At first, this elderflower gin cocktail seems shy and simple, the girl next door vibe. But once you add that pop of red, the rich color takes over the entire drink. It becomes that strong kind of woman that walks into a room and commands the respect and attention of everyone in sight. I like the latter. During college I was all about gin and tonic. I loved the light floral and crisp notes of gin. Some ten years later, I’ve continue to love and appreciate the subtle intricacies of gin. And more importantly, I learned how well it plays with another favorite of mine, St. Germain. What is St. Germain? St. Germain is a French liqueur flavored with elderflower. IT IS DELICIOUS. And if I could, I would add of splash of it to everything. It adds a sweet fruitiness that’s difficult to explain. However, its taste can be best compared to lychee (which is why I add St. Germain in my lychee sangria.) Cheers, friends! Blood Orange Elderflower Gin Cocktail 5 from 1 vote The refreshing elderflower gin cocktail gets a pop of color and flavor from the addition of blood orange juice. Prep Time: 5 minutes minutesTotal Time: 5 minutes minutes Servings: 1 (multiply as needed) Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Ingredients▢ 1 oz gin▢ ¾ oz St. Germain (elderflower liqueur)▢ ½ oz lime juice, fresh squeezed▢ 2 ½ oz ginger ale, chilled▢ 1 oz blood orange juice, fresh squeezed Instructions In a serving glass, combine gin, St. Germain, lime juice, and ginger ale. Top glass with ice. Slowly pour in blood orange juice. Garnish with blood orange slices and fresh lemon thyme sprigs, if desired. Serve immediately. Notes Use your gin of choice St. Germain is a French liqueur flavored with elderflower. Use any brand of elderflower liqueur. In California, blood oranges are available from December through May. The exact range depends on the variety of blood orange. NutritionCalories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.2mg Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: DrinksCuisine: American Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Alex says: February 27, 2016 I got to taste this drink before I went to work. It was almost too good to put down, but I had too. I need this again: on my day off! Reply
Eden Passante says: October 12, 2016 Blood orange is so popular this season, I love this recipe! Thanks for sharing! Reply
jess larson | plays well with butter says: December 5, 2016 i just came across these beauties on pinterest & they are so gorgeous. st germaine & blood orange are two of my favorite things ever. i will be trying as soon as blood oranges are back in season!! Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: December 17, 2016 Yes, vodka also works. I prefer gin because the floral notes really pair well with the elderflower :)
Gaby B says: March 7, 2017 Can this be made without ginger ale? I can’t have carbonated drinks anymore. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: March 8, 2017 The ginger ale adds sweetness to think drink. Perhaps you can add pineapple juice or apple juice.
Ana says: March 10, 2017 I would love to make this drink but you don’t explain how to make the blood orange juice. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: March 10, 2017 You can buy blood oranges at the market (or farmers market), slice them in half and squeeze out the juice (or use a juicer).
Myrt says: April 23, 2017 Thanks for this! I would substitute elderflower or rose/elderflower presse (e.g., Belvoir) for the ginger ale and skip the lime juice. Meyer lemon also goes very nicely with blood orange instead of lime. If you have access to a tree, a blood orange blossom garnish is nice. I grow both blood oranges (Moros) and roses. The characteristic taste of St Germain is the cis-rose oxide chemical from the elderflowers. It’s the same molecule in lychee, Gewürztraminer grapes/wine and some roses (hence the name). I believe the St Germain process uses high-tech chromatography to get the pure cis-rose oxide note. The other elderflower liqueurs out there use older technology and taste plantier. Sometimes (with quince-rose hip syrup) the coarser taste is better. I also infuse gin with the same rose petals (Francis Dubreuil/Barcelona) that I use to make rose syrup. My rose martini recipe is 2oz rose-infused Hendricks gin, 1/2-1oz St Germain, 1/2 oz rose syrup. Shake over ice, serve up with a rose garnish. Reply
Emilie says: July 26, 2017 This is lovely! I don’t drink anything with bubbles, so I brewed a cup of lemongrass and ginger tea and used a bit of that. I skipped the lime because of the lemongrass, I love gin, St Germain and blood oranges! Reply
vivian says: February 17, 2018 This drink is both beautiful and delicious. We try a new cocktail every Saturday, and this is definitely one of my favourites. Thanks for this great recipe! Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: February 18, 2018 Thanks so much! That’s so wonderful to hear! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Maryanne Cabrera says: May 4, 2018 That’s wonderful to hear! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for trying out the recipe!
Kelly says: April 15, 2019 You should try Zephyr Gin! It’s an elderberry gin. It’s soo delicious :) Reply
Annemarie says: December 23, 2019 Can i substitute the blood orange for anything else. I cant find them anywhere Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: December 23, 2019 Blood oranges can typically be found in Southern California from November through early spring. You can substitute fresh squeezed orange juice. However, you won’t get that same vibrant color. Don’t use cranberry or pomegranate juice. Those fruits will completely overpower the elderflower liqueur flavor.
Kathia says: May 2, 2020 Hi What can i use instead of ginger ale? Ginger beer? Seltzer water? I do not have ginger ale in hand, but got the rest of the items! Thanks Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: May 2, 2020 Hi! Ginger ale works best because it’s lighter in flavor and a bit sweeter than ginger beer. Ginger beer would overpower the drink. Instead of the ginger ale, I’d do a 50/50 of ginger beer and seltzer (or club soda) to lessen the punch of the ginger beer.
Brian says: January 24, 2021 Yes St. Germain is made in France, but it was created by the late Rob Cooper of the Cooper Spirits Company in 2007, in NY USA. Cooper Spirits is now owned by Bacardi Reply
MELISSA says: February 19, 2021 We love this cocktail!! Thanks so much for the recipe – so light and refreshing. Will be rinsing this for as long as blood oranges are in season! Reply
Ryan says: April 6, 2022 Would you recommend shaking the gin, elderflower liqueur and lime juice and then straining over ice and adding the ginger ale + blood orange? I have heard you should always shake citrus. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: April 8, 2022 Yes, I have heard that as well. However, I have never done a side by side test to see whether it truly changes the taste of the cocktail. In that case, yes, I would recommend what you suggested. Shake the gin, elderflower, lime juice and blood orange juice. Then, pour the ginger ale.