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Food & Drinks

Empress Layover – Cucumber Elderflower Collins Recipe

Cucumber Elderflower Collins Recipe

Cucumber Elderflower Collins Recipe

Cucumber Elderflower Collins Recipe

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This cucumber elderflower collins cocktail recipe is so refreshing! Empress 1908 Gin named this cocktail the Empress Layover. However, it is essentially a collins cocktail. If you are unfamiliar with what a collins drink is, it is a sour cocktail (in this case I used lemon juice) with a base spirit (typically gin) and carbonated water. Then it is served in a tall glass.

While you can pretty much use any gin in this drink, I love using the Empress 1908 Gin. While the cocktail in these photos has a light purple hue (which I think is really cool), it will start to turn pink over time (even better color haha, can you tell pink is my favorite color?). I personally didn’t want to wait until the drink turned pink to take these photos. But the pink hue is really pretty!

The cucumber adds freshness and makes a perfect porch / balcony drinking cocktail. I also love any cocktail with elderflower in it. It adds a light touch of sweetness (hence why you don’t need simple syrup in this recipe) with subtle floral flavor. This floral flavor is nothing like lavender or rose. It’s more delicate and overall refreshing.

Cucumber Elderflower Collins Recipe

Cucumber Elderflower Collins RecipeElderflower Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Empress 1908 Gin
  • 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 oz Elderflower Cordial (you can purchase on Amazon or World Market, but occasionally I spot them in grocery stores)
  • Sparkling Water (I like to use Topo Chico, but feel free to use your preferred sparkling water)
  • Cucumber
  • 2 sprigs of Rosemary (save 1 for garnish)

Empress 1908 Gin

Directions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber. Cut slices of cumber lengthwise and use one slice. Save another slice for garnish. Then add one sprig of rosemary.
  2. Combine the Empress Gin, lemon juice, and elderflower cordial in the cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake for 30 seconds.
  3. Fill your glass with ice. A tall glass works best with this drink. If you want to garnish with a slice of cucumber, first add the slice of cumber and wrap it around the glass. Then fill the glass with ice.
  4. Grab a strainer and set it on top of the glass and pour the drink mix into the glass. This will catch the cucumber seeds and skin.
  5. Top it off with sparkling water. Add 1 sprig of rosemary for garnish.

Drinkware Recommendations

Drinkware Recommendations For Cucumber Elderflower Collins

Glassware:

Muddlers:

Cocktail Shakers:

 

What are your thoughts on cucumber and elderflower in cocktails?

xo RD

Gin Collins Recipe

Comments

  9. Katerina says

    I would love to try this – the colour of that gin is so gorgeous and your styling looks beautiful. I got my elderflower cordial at IKEA of all places! This will be such a good use for it. Thanks for the inspiration, Rach!

    Reply

  11. Stephanie says

    I like to think I’m pretty good at making cocktails, but I’ve yet to really experiment with gin drinks. Now I really want to try this out and see what I think!

    Reply

  12. Maureen says

    What a pretty drink! I would be nervous to drink it because it’s just too pretty. The gin color definitely has something to do with it. Will have to tell the hubby about it, he is the bartender in this neck of the woods! 🙂 I hope you are doing well and happy Thursday!

    Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com

    Reply

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