cocktaildna

France · 2007

St-Germain Spritz

Also known as Elderflower Spritz, St Germain Spritz

A light, bubbly drink that tastes like spring in a glass, built around elderflower liqueur and sparkling wine.

elderflowerfloralsparklingsweetlightrefreshingbrunchbubblycitruslow-alcohol

%

ABV

Difficulty

St-Germain Spritz

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is sweet and floral with a bright pop of bubbles. The middle softens into a honeyed citrus note from the elderflower, while the finish is crisp and dry as the wine fades out.

Who will like it

For people who like sweet, floral, low-alcohol drinks with plenty of fizz.

When to drink

Pour this at a daytime party or as a brunch toast when you want something festive but easygoing.

Ordering tip

Ask for extra soda and a little less St-Germain if you find elderflower too sweet.

Ice: CubedTemp: ColdCost: $3–$6Glass: White Wine GlassBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a sweet, floral, and highly refreshing drink that goes down easy. The elderflower hits you right away with a honey-like sweetness, while the bubbles keep it from feeling heavy. It is light on alcohol, making it a good choice for long afternoons. You won't find much bitterness or depth here, just straightforward, fizzy sweetness.

Finish: The finish is short and crisp, leaving a lingering floral sweetness that dries out quickly.

Primary tastes

sweetfloralfruity

Secondary

sour

Aroma

elderflowercitrusgrape
  • Sweetnessquite sweet

    St-Germain brings a strong honeyed sweetness that dominates the palate.

  • Sournesslow acidity

    There is a slight tartness from the wine and lemon, but it stays in the background.

  • Strengthlow ABV

    With mostly wine and liqueur, this is a light session drink you can sip for a while.

  • Refreshingvery refreshing

    The heavy carbonation and cold serving temperature make this extremely thirst-quenching.

  • Complexitystraightforward

    The flavor is simple and direct, mostly tasting of elderflower and bubbles.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · White Wine Glass · equal parts on Sparkling Wine. Prosecco or Champagne work best; go for brut to balance the sweetness

Before you start

Chill your wine glass in the freezer for a few minutes if you have time, and make sure your sparkling wine and soda are cold.

Ingredients

  • Sparkling WineBase SpiritBrut Prosecco or Champagne recommended90ml
  • St-GermainLiqueurElderflower liqueur45ml
  • Club SodaSoda60ml
  • Lemon TwistGarnish1 twist

Garnish: Lemon twist

Tools

  • Jigger · Measuring

    Measuring the St-Germain and soda water

    At home: Measuring spoons or a small shot glass

  • White Wine Glass · Serving

    Holding the drink and showing off the bubbles

    At home: Large wine glass or highball glass

  • Bar Spoon · Mixing

    Stirring the drink gently without killing the fizz

    At home: Long-handled spoon or chopstick

  • Peeler · Garnish

    Cutting a clean lemon twist

    At home: Paring knife

Ingredients and tools to make St-Germain Spritz
Ingredients and tools

Steps

  1. 1

    Grab a large wine glass and fill it to the brim with ice cubes. The more ice you use, the colder the drink stays and the slower it dilutes.

    Step 1 — how to make St-Germain Spritz

    !Using too little ice makes the drink warm up and go flat quickly.

  2. 2

    Measure out 45ml of St-Germain and pour it over the ice. It will settle to the bottom of the glass.

    Step 2 — how to make St-Germain Spritz

    !Free-pouring the liqueur usually leads to an overly sweet drink.

  3. 3

    Pour 90ml of chilled sparkling wine into the glass. Tilt the glass slightly as you pour so the wine doesn't foam over the rim.

    Step 3 — how to make St-Germain Spritz

    !Pouring straight down into the glass wastes bubbles and makes a mess.

  4. 4

    Add 60ml of club soda to top up the glass. This adds the final layer of fizz and stretches the drink.

    Step 4 — how to make St-Germain Spritz

    !Using seltzer with added salt or flavoring alters the clean taste.

  5. 5

    Use a bar spoon to give the drink one gentle pull from the bottom to mix the elderflower with the wine. Run a lemon twist around the rim, drop it in, and serve.

    Step 5 — how to make St-Germain Spritz

    !Stirring too fast beats the gas out of the wine and makes it flat.

Serve

Serve it right away while the bubbles are still lively and the glass is frosty.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for St-Germain

  • St-GermainRothman & Winter Elderflower Liqueur
    Match
    Specialty availability

    St-Germain → Rothman & Winter Elderflower Liqueur: Slightly less sweet and more intensely floral.

  • St-GermainBols Elderflower
    Match
    Common availability

    St-Germain → Bols Elderflower: A bit sweeter and slightly more syrupy on the tongue.

Swap options for Sparkling Wine

  • Sparkling WineDry Cava
    Match
    Common availability

    Sparkling Wine → Dry Cava: Adds a slightly nuttier, more yeasty note than Prosecco.

Related

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Aperol Spritz

Similar cocktail

Aperol Spritz

Aperol brings bitter orange notes instead of sweet elderflower.

Match

The Aperol Spritz has a drier, more bitter edge, while the St-Germain version is softer and sweeter.

In common: bubbly, low-abv, built in glass

Ingredients

Both share

Sparkling Wine, Club Soda

Only in St-Germain Spritz

St-Germain

Only in Aperol Spritz

Aperol

Swapping elderflower for Aperol shifts the drink from floral and sweet to bitter and citrusy.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Highly carbonated, light, refreshing

How Aperol Spritz differs

Bitter instead of floral, less sweet

View recipe & details →

Hugo Spritz

Similar cocktail

Hugo Spritz

The Hugo adds muddled mint and lime juice for a greener, more herbal profile.

Match

The Hugo tastes brighter and more herbal thanks to the lime and mint, whereas the St-Germain Spritz is simpler and sweeter.

In common: floral, bubbly, low-abv

Ingredients

Both share

Sparkling Wine, Club Soda, St-Germain

Only in Hugo Spritz

Mint, Lime Juice

The Hugo builds on the same base but adds fresh herbs and acidity.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Elderflower forward, light, fizzy

How Hugo Spritz differs

Greener, more tart

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The St-Germain Spritz was created as a promotional cocktail by the Cooper Spirits Company shortly after they introduced St-Germain elderflower liqueur to the US market in 2007. It was designed to showcase the liqueur's versatility with champagne and quickly became the brand's signature serve.

Creator
Cooper Spirits Company
Era
2000s
Confidence

The official St-Germain recipe uses a 2:1.5:2 ratio of Champagne:St-Germain:Soda.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

  • Use a brut sparkling wine to balance the liqueur's sweetness.
  • Chill all ingredients before making the drink.
  • Stir gently to keep the carbonation intact.

Avoid

Common mistakes

  • Using a sweet sparkling wine will make the drink cloying.
  • Stirring too vigorously will flatten the bubbles.