Elderflower Old Fashioned

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This Elderflower Old Fashioned trades the sugar cube for St-Germain, so you get bourbon, floral elderflower liqueur, and a few dashes of bitters stirred over one big ice cube. Three ingredients, five minutes, and a bright lemon peel on top.

A glass of elderflower old fashioned with a round ice cube and lemon twist garnish sits on a gray surface, with a lemon, a bottle, and bitters blurred in the background.

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If you’re looking for a take on an old fashioned without the bitter notes, this Elderflower Old Fashioned is the perfect option. It’s floral, refreshing, and perfect for the summer.

It only takes three ingredients so it comes together quickly and will sure to be a new favorite for hot days.

A classic old fashioned leans on muddled sugar to tame the whiskey. Here, a full ounce of St-Germain does that job on its own, so there’s no simple syrup and no gritty sugar at the bottom of the glass. The bitters keep it from tipping into sweet territory, and a strip of lemon peel (instead of the usual orange) adds a bright, citrusy lift that plays right into the floral notes.

I came up with this one when I had a bottle of St-Germain open for spring cocktails and a bourbon lover in the house. It turned out to be the drink I reach for when I want something that feels a little special but takes zero effort.

If you’re keeping that bottle of elderflower liqueur busy, my zippy Elderflower Gimlet and the crisp, garden-fresh Cucumber Vodka Elderflower Cocktail are next in line. Hosting a crowd? A pitcher of bubbly Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade covers the non-bourbon drinkers

Note from the Author

2026 Update: I first shared this cocktail in 2021 and updated the post in 2026 with more testing notes and a few fun twists. The recipe is the same one I’ve been pouring all along.

A glass of amber-hued elderflower old fashioned with a large round ice sphere inside, viewed from above on a light gray countertop.

How to Stir Up a Bourbon Elderflower Old Fashioned

Check out the recipe card below for more in-depth instructions for this xxx:

Add the ice: Drop one large ice cube into a rocks glass. If you’ve got a silicone tray for big cubes, now’s its moment.
Pour: Add the bourbon, St-Germain, and 2 to 3 dashes of Angostura bitters. Start with 2 dashes if you like it on the softer, more floral side.
Stir: Give it a good stir, about 20 to 30 seconds, until the outside of the glass feels cold. Don’t rush this part, it’s where the bourbon mellows out.
Garnish: Twist a strip of lemon peel over the glass to release the oils, then drop it in and serve.

A glass with an orange drink, a round ice sphere, and a lemon peel sits on a counter next to a decorative metal tin lid, evoking an elderflower old fashioned.

What I Learned Testing This St-Germain Old Fashioned

Cocktails are chemistry you can drink, and my food science background shaped how I balanced this one. Here’s what made the difference:

Skip the sugar first: Taste it as written before adding anything. The St-Germain brings plenty of sweetness, but if you like a sweeter pour, a small splash of simple syrup stirs in more smoothly than granulated sugar.
Bitters are your dial: Two dashes lets the elderflower lead; three pulls it back toward a classic old fashioned. Adjust to your bourbon.
Pick a smooth bourbon: A mellow, slightly sweet bourbon lets the floral notes come through. A high-proof or very spicy one can steamroll the St-Germain.
Lemon over orange: Lemon’s sharper oils brighten the elderflower, where orange would push the drink sweeter and heavier.

Tip

Express the lemon peel over the glass before dropping it in, because those fragrant oils on the surface are the first thing you smell and they highlight the elderflower.

A glass of whiskey with a large spherical ice cube and a lemon twist sits on a gray surface, hinting at an elderflower Old Fashioned. Two bottles of liquor and a bottle cap are blurred in the background.

Variations

Rye instead of bourbon: Rye’s peppery spice makes a drier, sharper elderflower old fashioned with more bite.
Go the gin route: Swap the bourbon for London dry gin, use orange bitters, and garnish with grapefruit for your take on the Elder Fashioned.
Peach bourbon twist: Add a dash of peach bitters or a thin peach slice for a juicy, late-summer version.

Recipe FAQs

How is a traditional old fashioned made?

A classic old fashioned has sugar muddled with bitters and water, whiskey, and garnished with an orange peel or cherry.
My friend Susannah makes the Best Old-Fashioned recipe. She has so many tips on each component of the cocktail that you should definitely check it out!

Does this old fashioned have sugar?

It doesn’t! The elderflower liqueur is so sweet that it replaces the need for any sugar. If you find that it isn’t sweet enough for your taste, you can definitely still add some.

What ingredients do you need to make an Elderflower Old Fashioned?

You’ll only need a few ingredients to make an elderflower old fashioned: Bourbon, St. Germain, or your elderflower liqueur of choice, Angostura bitters, and Lemon peel, to garnish!

What is elderflower liqueur?

Elderflower liqueur is a floral liqueur made from elderflowers. They’re a small white flower found in France that gets harvested in the spring once a year.

St. Germain is the most common brand that you’ll find in the US, but there’s several you can find in local stores.

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