Upscale Cocktails: Try an elderflower martini for celebrations

Story and photos by JANNA ZEPP

Looking for something a little more upscale for the upcoming February and March holidays? Elevate your Valentine’s Day or your St. Patrick’s Day with a sophisticated alternative to beer or sparkling wine with the elegant Elderflower Martini.

When faced with any choice, my preference leans toward luxury and this cocktail has it in spades. Its presentation, with a twist of lemon, is straight out of a James Bond movie. Picture the leading lady dressed in a full-length black evening gown, dripping diamonds and emeralds, holding the iconic martini glass in her jewel-encrusted talons and sipping this lush elixir while at the baccarats table — timeless elegance — regardless of season or setting.

I discovered this gem at Cheeves Brothers several years ago and it is my favorite of their bar offerings.

Elderflower Martini

Equipment
Cocktail shaker and strainer

Ingredients
3 ½ ounces vodka or gin
1 ounce elderflower liqueur
½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice from a squeezed wedge
Twist of lemon

Preparation
Fill the shaker with ice and add the vodka or gin.
Squeeze lemon juice into the mixing glass from a fresh wedge of lemon.
Add the elderberry liqueur to the cocktail shaker.
Mix with a long spoon or cover and shake.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Note: Add muddled cucumbers and/or cucumber vodka for a clean, refreshing boost to the drink’s flavor.