Ben and I recently visited New Orleans. It was the first time for both of us, and honestly we didn’t really know what to expect, but we had such a fun time! We were only there for two nights so it was a bit of a whirlwind, and as you can imagine, most of the trip was centered around food. How long it takes: 5 minutes Equipment you’ll need: optional cocktail shaker Servings: 1 (but it’s so easy to make more!) Obviously. One of the best meals we had was at Gris-Gris, which was recommended by my friend Jenn. We sat at the chef’s table and had such a blast chatting with Chef Eric Cook, a USMC veteran and an amazing chef. Ben bonded with him over sharing stories of their time in the Marines, and I bonded with him over all the extra bites he was bringing us. We tend not to repeat restaurants if we travel to the same place more than once (I like to try as many places as possible!), but I think we’d have a really hard time not stopping into Gris-Gris for another meal. Best shrimp and grits ever.
About This Elderflower Cocktail
Another thing I had at Gris-Gris was a cocktail similar to this one. On Chef Eric’s menu, it was called the Gin Brigitte. I later found out that it’s his wife’s favorite cocktail, and it was mine too. It’s a relatively simple cocktail consisting of gin, elderflower liqueur (St. Germain), grapefruit juice, and fresh basil. Refreshing, light, and so flavorful, it may become your favorite, too! And only 151 calories per cocktail! Is elderflower liqueur new to you? It’s one of my favorites! A very popular brand is St-Germain. It has a lot of natural sweetness so you don’t need to add any extra sweetener to this cocktail. The flavor is a little hard to explain, but it’s slightly floral without being obviously floral. Not overpowering at all, St-Germain just adds that extra little something. Try it and you’ll see!
How to make this cocktail your own
Obviously, there are a lot of things you can do with this, but here are some of my favorite ideas:
Make it with vodka. If you’re not a gin fan, this drink is great with vodka as well. Use a different garnish. If you don’t have basil or don’t like basil, try garnishing the cocktail with a sprig of fresh rosemary or mint. Add sweeteners. I think the elderflower liqueur adds a lot of sweetness, but if you like it a touch sweeter, try adding honey, agave, or simple syrup. Add sparkle. Try adding a splash of prosecco, champagne, tonic, or soda water to this drink. Don’t like grapefruit juice? Well, I’m surprised you’re still reading this, but try a cranberry margarita, sparkling pink lemonade, or watermelon mint lemonade.
