St Germain Spritz

The St Germain spritz is what happens when French elegance meets Italian aperitivo culture. It's lighter than an Aperol spritz, more floral, and somehow feels fancier without being fussy.

If you've never had St Germain, you're in for something special. It's an elderflower liqueur with notes of pear, honeysuckle, and citrus. Mixed with Prosecco and soda water, it becomes one of the most refreshing cocktails you can make at home.

The best part? It takes about two minutes to put together. No bartending skills required.

Classic St Germain Spritz Recipe

This follows the standard spritz ratio with a slight adjustment. St-Germain is sweeter than Aperol, so the soda water does more work here to keep things balanced.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
• 3 oz Prosecco
• 1.5 oz club soda
• Lemon twist for garnish
• Ice

How to make it:

Fill a large wine glass with ice. Pour in the St-Germain, then add the Prosecco, then top with club soda. Give it a gentle stir. Express a lemon twist over the glass and drop it in.

That's all there is to it.

A few notes:

Chill everything beforehand. Cold St-Germain, cold Prosecco, cold soda. This keeps the ice from melting too fast and watering down your drink. If you want to get fancy, add an edible flower or a sprig of fresh thyme. The herbal garnish plays nicely with the floral notes in the liqueur.

What Is St Germain?

St-Germain showed up in 2007 and quickly became a bartender favorite. The liqueur is made from fresh elderflowers harvested in the French Alps during a short window each spring. The flowers are macerated and blended with eau-de-vie, which gives it that distinctive floral-but-not-perfumey character.

Despite the Art Deco bottle that looks like it belongs in a 1920s Parisian bar, St-Germain is a modern creation. But it tastes like something that's been around forever, which is part of its charm.

At 20% ABV, it's lower in alcohol than most spirits, which makes it perfect for spritzes. You get flavor without the drink knocking you sideways before dinner.

St-Germain Spritz Variations

The classic is great on its own. But the St-Germain spritz is also a solid foundation for experimentation.

The Hugo Spritz

The Hugo adds fresh mint, which transforms the drink into something brighter and more herbaceous. To make it: muddle 5 or 6 mint leaves with the St-Germain before adding ice, Prosecco, and soda. Garnish with more mint and a lime wheel.

The French 75 Riff

Add 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice and 0.5 oz gin to your St-Germain spritz for something closer to a French 75 but more approachable. It's tarter and more complex.

The Champagne Upgrade

At the Ritz Bar in Paris, they make their St-Germain spritz with Champagne instead of Prosecco. It's more expensive, obviously, but the finer bubbles and toastier notes do elevate the drink. Save this version for celebrations.

Going a Different Direction

If elderflower isn't your thing but you love the spritz format, consider trying a citrus-forward botanical syrup instead. Jo's Orange Fennel brings orange, lemon, fennel, and warm spices to the party. It's a completely different flavor profile, but it works beautifully in a spritz. More sunset than springtime. See our guide on tonic syrups for how the concentrate approach works.

Tips for the Perfect St-Germain Spritz

What glass should you use?

A large wine glass is traditional. The wide bowl gives the aromatics room to breathe and looks beautiful with all that ice and golden liquid. A highball glass works too if that's what you have.

What kind of Prosecco?

St-Germain is already sweet, so a dry Prosecco labeled "Brut" or "Extra Brut" helps balance things out. You don't need to spend a fortune. A $12 to $15 bottle you'd enjoy drinking on its own is perfect.

When to serve it?

This is an aperitivo drink. Before dinner, at the start of a party, on a warm afternoon when you want something elegant but not heavy. It pairs beautifully with light appetizers: cheese, olives, bruschetta, anything Mediterranean.

The St-Germain spritz is also a crowd-pleaser at showers and garden parties. It looks sophisticated and tastes approachable. For more hosting ideas, see our dinner party themes guide.

Non-Alcoholic St-Germain Spritz

Can you make this without alcohol? Sort of. The challenge is that St-Germain's flavor comes from the alcohol extraction of the elderflowers. There's no perfect substitute.

Your best options:

Elderflower cordial + sparkling wine alternative: Use 1 oz elderflower cordial (like Belvoir) with 4 oz non-alcoholic sparkling wine and 1 oz soda water. It won't taste exactly the same, but you'll get the floral notes.

Elderflower syrup + citrus: Mix 1 oz elderflower syrup, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and sparkling water. Add a splash of white grape juice for body.

For more non-alcoholic options, see our easy mocktail recipes or our non-alcoholic Aperol spritz guide.

St-Germain Spritz for a Crowd

The St-Germain spritz scales up easily. For a pitcher that serves 6 to 8:

• 9 oz (about 1 cup) St-Germain
• 1 bottle (750ml) Prosecco
• 9 oz club soda
• Lemon twists for garnish

Combine the St-Germain and Prosecco in a pitcher. Add the soda water right before serving to keep the bubbles lively. Pour over ice into individual glasses and garnish each one.

More Spritzes to Try

If you're building out your drink repertoire, start here:

Hugo Spritz: The St-Germain spritz's minty sibling.

Limoncello Spritz: Bright, lemony, and perfect for summer.

Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz: The bittersweet classic, minus the alcohol.

FAQ

What does St-Germain taste like?

St-Germain has a delicate elderflower flavor with notes of pear, honeysuckle, and tropical fruit like lychee and passionfruit. It's sweet but not cloying, floral but not perfumey. People often describe it as tasting like springtime.

What's the difference between a St-Germain spritz and a Hugo spritz?

They're close cousins. Both use St-Germain (or elderflower syrup) with Prosecco and soda water. The difference is that a Hugo spritz adds fresh mint and sometimes lime, which gives it a brighter, more herbaceous character. A St-Germain spritz is more purely floral.

What's the best Prosecco for a St-Germain spritz?

Look for a dry Prosecco labeled "Brut" or "Extra Brut." St-Germain is already sweet, so a drier sparkling wine keeps the drink balanced. You don't need to spend more than $15. La Marca, Mionetto, and Zonin are all solid choices.

How strong is a St-Germain spritz?

Not very. With 1.5 oz of 20% ABV liqueur diluted by Prosecco and soda, you're looking at roughly 7% to 9% ABV total. It's lighter than a glass of wine, which is why it works so well as an aperitivo.

Can I use Champagne instead of Prosecco?

Absolutely. Champagne has finer bubbles and toastier, more complex flavors. It makes the drink feel more luxurious. The Ritz Bar in Paris serves their St-Germain spritz this way. Just know you'll be spending more per drink.

How long does St-Germain last after opening?

St-Germain is best used within 6 months of opening. It won't spoil, but the delicate floral flavors will fade over time. Store it in a cool, dark place. Some people refrigerate it to extend the flavor, though it's not required.

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