St. Germain Spritz

Sweet, floral, and refreshing, this St. Germain Spritz is made with elderflower liqueur, prosecco, and lemon juice. It’s a simple cocktail that’s perfect for the spring and summer! 

About This Simple St. Germain Cocktail 

Spritzes are a type of cocktail that are thought to have been invented in the 1800s by Austro-Hungarian soldiers stationed in northern Italy. They found the local wine too strong so they added a splash of water to dilute it (spritzen means “to splash” in German!). 

The most famous spritz cocktail is the Aperol spritz, but there are so many spritz cocktails you can make! 

This St. Germain spritz is made with — you guessed it — St. Germain. It’s a French elderflower liqueur that contains up to 1,000 elderflower blossoms per bottle. 

The cocktail is sweet and floral in flavor, but it’s a delicate flavor. If you like floral cocktails but don’t want anything cloyingly sweet, try this St. Germain spritz! 

In addition to St. Germain, the cocktail is made with both prosecco and club soda for double the bubbles, lemon juice for brightness, and fresh cucumber for freshness. 

It’s the perfect cocktail for spring and summer gatherings like garden parties, barbecues, or just relaxing by the pool. 

Love St. Germain but aren’t sure what cocktail to make with it next? Try this French Blonde Cocktail! It features grapefruit juice, gin, and Lillet Blanc and is also great for the spring and summer.

Bar Tools Needed 

You need very little bar tools to make this elegant elderflower spritz. Here’s what I recommend: 

• Jigger — For measuring the ingredients. 
• Mandoline — For thinly slicing the cucumber. 
• Knife and Cutting Board — If you don’t have a mandoline, just use a sharp knife. 
• Citrus Juicer — For juicing the lemon. Here are my tips for getting the most juice from lemons or limes. 
• Wine or Balloon Glasses — Either will work for serving the cocktail. 

Ingredients in This Recipe 

A St. Germain prosecco spritz requires minimal ingredients, so it’s important that you buy a good-quality prosecco, use fresh lemon juice, and that everything is chilled beforehand. 

• English Cucumber
• Ice 
• Lemon Juice 
• Prosecco 
• St. Germain
• Club Soda
• Fresh Mint or Basil (for garnish) 
• Lemon Slices (for garnish) 

How to Make a St. Germain Spritz 

The steps for making this elderflower prosecco cocktail are simple: 

1. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut the cucumber into long, thin strips from end to end. 
2. Wrap a slice of cucumber around the inside of each of the wine or balloon glasses.
3. Fill the glasses with cubed ice. Arrange sliced lemons against the inside of the glass.
4. Divide the lemon juice between the glasses. 
5. Add the Prosecco, followed by the St. Germain and club soda. Serve immediately.

Garnish Ideas 

We prefer garnishing the spritz with thinly sliced lemon rounds and a sprig of fresh mint or basil. 

FAQs

Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Is a St. Germain spritz shaken or stirred? 

Always stirred. The prosecco and club soda are both carbonated, and if you shake the cocktail you’ll wind up with it all over your kitchen. 

What type of glass is this cocktail served in? 

Use wine or balloon glasses. If you have neither, it’s fine! Use what you have on hand. 

Should a spritz cocktail be served over ice?

Yes, spritz cocktails are served over ice. We love the nugget ice from our nugget ice maker, but you can also order a cup of nugget ice at Sonic. 

Can I make a St. Germain spritz in advance? 

No, the prosecco and club soda will both lose their carbonation and the spritz will lack “spritz!” 

Can I make this as a pitcher cocktail? 

Possibly, IF you plan on pouring and serving the cocktails immediately.

Do not make a big batch St. Germain spritzer in a pitcher if it’s going to sit there for more than a minute or two, because the prosecco and club soda will go flat. 

Can I make this cocktail non-alcoholic? 

Yes, you’re welcome to use non-alcoholic alternatives to make this a mocktail. The prosecco can be replaced with an alcohol-free prosecco or Champagne, and the St. Germain can be replaced with an elderflower syrup. 

• Surely Non-Alcoholic Champagne
• St. Regis Sparkling Brut (Non-Alcoholic) 
• Sutter Home Fre Brut Non-Alcoholic Champagne
• Crystal Canyon Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Champagne
• Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco  
• Monin Elderflower Syrup (note that you won’t need 8 oz. of this syrup to make the spritz! It’s much sweeter than St. Germain.) 

Safety tip: Note that depending on brand you use, some alcohol-removed spirits may still contain trace amounts of alcohol. Check before using/serving to kids or drinking during pregnancy, etc. 

What to Serve with a St. Germain Spritz 

This cold and refreshing elderflower spritz pairs well with spring and summer favorites such as: 

• Finger foods: cucumber watercress sandwiches, almond croissants, cucumber rolls, berry lettuce cups, prosciutto and asparagus puff pastry tarts, and mango salsa. 
• Entrees: crustless broccoli quiche, tarragon chicken salad, quiche Lorraine, coconut chia pudding parfaits, and ham egg muffins. 
• Salads: citrus fennel salad, cold asparagus salad, and zucchini tomato salad. 
• Desserts: lemon ricotta cake, lemon curd pavlova, strawberries and cream, rhubarb coffee cake, almond croissants, and strawberry galette. 

Try This Cocktail at Home! 

Next time you’re looking for cocktails made with St. Germain, give this simple spritz recipe a try! 

Did you think it was a refreshing cocktail? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see photos of your St. Germain and prosecco spritz! 

More Spritz Cocktail Recipes: 

If you enjoy fresh strawberry cocktails, you’re bound to love this Strawberry Aperol Spritz! Aperol is infused with strawberries before being combined with prosecco and club soda in the classic spritz ratios. Cocktails don’t get more summery than this! 

The Limoncello Spritz is a bright, refreshing cocktail bursting with lemon flavor! It’s the perfect drink to sip poolside on warm summer days.

A Lemon and Raspberry Spritz Cocktail is tart and fruity with plenty of spritz thanks to the sparkling water. 

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