St Germain Spritz

Sparkling and floral, this St. Germain Spritz is the ideal refreshing cocktail! A simple way to use this elderflower liqueur, it only takes 3 minutes to make.

Here’s a light and refreshing cocktail that rivals the best summer drink: the Saint-Germain spritz! It’s floral and sparkling, full of slightly sweet flavors and fizz. There are many classic spritz cocktails, from the famous Aperol Spritz to the bitter Campari Spritz. This is a fun take on the classic, and I have to say it’s my new favorite (I’ve got a thing for that elderflower liqueur!). It’s easy to drink, perfect for sipping poolside, at brunch, or with an afternoon book. Oh: and it takes 3 minutes.

What’s in a Saint-Germain Spritz?

The St Germain Spritz is a cousin of the popular Aperol Spritz, an Italian aperitif (ie, to drink before a meal). The spritz was invented in Italy in the 19th century to dilute sparkling wine by mixing it with… well, water! It wasn’t until the 1950s that the Aperol Spritz took on its current form. It is a cocktail on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails, meaning there is an ‘official’ definition. The St Germain Spritz replaces this elderflower liqueur. This is in a St. Germain Spritz:

• Saint Germain
• sparkling winelike prosecco or champagne
• Carbonated water (no tonic water)

How to make a St Germain Spritz

The St. Germain Spritz is so easy to make: there really is no technique! Simply mix the ingredients and top with bubbles. Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe):

• stir: Stir St. Germain in a glass with ice to chill.
• Garnish with bubbles: Add Prosecco and sparkling water.
• Garnish: Squeeze the juice from a lemon slice and serve.

Find out more about Saint Germain!

You may love it already… but what is St. Germain? St Germain is a liqueur made from elderflower, the small white flowers of an elderberry plant. The taste is light, slightly floral and fragrant. Hard to describe until you taste it! It gives a unique smooth finish to the taste of cocktails. How do you say St. Germain? The name is French so say “Sahn-jer-MAHN‘ with your best French accent.

But it doesn’t have a hundred-year French history. No, St. Germain was invented in 2007! The bottle with a vintage look gives the impression that it has a centuries-old history. Yes, a guy named Rob invented it in 2007. (Here’s the story behind it.)

What is the spray ratio?

The classic spritz ratio is in all spritzers, from the Aperol to this Amaro spritz. The basic idea is 3 parts sparkling wine, 2 parts liqueur, 1 part sparkling water. Once you memorize this ratio, you can use it for endless spray variations. Use any type of liquor, from Italian bitters to… St. Germain of course! Here are some other spritz recipes to try:

Step it up: try clear ice!

To take your St. Germain Spritz to the next level… try clear ice! What is clear ice? It’s homemade artisanal ice cream that’s crystal clear without the cloudiness of regular ice cream. You can cut big chunks and they look like a fancy bar! They take this drink to superstar level. All you need is 24 hours and a small cool box. Go to How to make transparent ice.

When to serve a St. Germain Spritz

Sparkling and refreshing, the St. Germain Spritz Cocktail is perfect for summer occasions. It’s perfect for sipping as:

More with St. Germain

Do you like this elderflower liqueur? We also. Here are some other St. Germain cocktails you can use in a bottle: