The Raspberry Gin Cocktail is the perfect sweet and fruity drink for Valentine’s Day. This refreshing cocktail features two types of liqueur, fresh lemon and a sophisticated, sugar-free, simple raspberry syrup!
Elderflower gin cocktail with lemon and raspberry
This Raspberry Gin Cocktail is a fabulous mixed drink recipe. It’s light and refreshing, made perfectly sweet with a simple raspberry syrup and freshly squeezed lemon, spiked with gin and elderflower liqueur, then topped with a spritz of bubbles.
I serve mine on ice cubes with fresh raspberries frozen right in them. It’s the perfect presentation for the perfect drink!
Enjoy this gin cocktail for Valentine’s Day (or any other holiday) or whip it up to spice up your weeknight dinner!
ingredients needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this refreshing raspberry and elderflower cocktail. See the recipe card below for ingredient amounts!
- Simple Raspberry Syrup: We make a homemade refined sugar-free simple syrup using a blend of raspberries, filtered water and maple syrup. It’s easy, I promise!
- Gin: Use your favorite type of gin. I recommend quality stuff!
- lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Elderflower Liqueur: This is optional but adds an extra layer of fruity flavor to the cocktail.
- Club Soda or Sparkling Water: They differ only subtly. Both will work!
- ice cubes: They will shake the cocktail with ice to chill the drink and then strain them.
- rosemary sprigs: Optional. For garnish!
- Raspberry ice cubes: Optional but fun! You can easily make raspberry ice cubes by placing raspberries in an ice cube tray, covering them with water and then freezing them.
How to make a raspberry gin cocktail
This easy gin cocktail is the perfect drink for a dinner date at home. It only takes 10 minutes to make!
- In a small saucepan, combine raspberries, water, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and allow to reduce by half. Strain and cool completely.
- In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine gin, lemon juice, club soda, 1.5 ounces simple raspberry syrup and elderflower liqueur. Shake to cool, then strain into your serving glass.
- Serve with raspberry ice cubes and a rosemary garnish.
tips and hints
- Make the syrup in advance. It needs time to cool completely before adding it to the drink. If it’s still warm when you shake your cocktail, it will melt the ice and dilute your drink.
- Use large ice cube molds for the raspberry ice cubes. The large ice cube molds are intended for the preparation of cocktails. The larger cubes melt more slowly, so they don’t dilute the drink as quickly as smaller ice cubes.
- If you want a fizzier drink, Wait until just before serving to add the club soda. Shake everything else together, pour into the glass, then top up with club soda and stir gently. This keeps more carbonic acid.
Your own simple syrup
I love making simple syrup at home! This version below is spiced up with raspberries and I promise it’s super easy.
Gin Lemon Cocktail Variations
- Use a different fruit. Swap out the raspberries for other berries you like. Blackberries or strawberries would be delicious.
- Swap out the club soda. You can use Prosecco or a Moscato wine (sweeter) with a similar effect.
- Use a different citrus fruit. Orange or lime is great!
serving suggestions
This elderflower gin cocktail is perfect for Valentine’s Day with this menu!
How to save
The only component of this recipe that you can really save is this Simple raspberry syrup. It will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
The raspberry cocktail itself is definitely best served right away. The fresher the better!
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For the raspberry syrup:
- 1 pint raspberries
- 1 Cup filtered water
- 1/4 Cup maple syrup
For the cocktail:
- 1.5 ounces gin
- 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce Club soda or sparkling water
- 1.5 ounces Simple raspberry syrup
- 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur optional but highly recommended
- sprigs of rosemary for garnish
- ice cubes
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Place raspberries, water, and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat until syrup is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Strain and let cool completely.
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In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine gin, lemon juice, lemonade, 1.5 ounces of raspberry simple syrup and elderflower. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.
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Serve immediately with a raspberry ice cube or two (or regular ice cubes) and a sprig or rosemary.
Leftover raspberry syrup will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.