The Dear Jane cocktail is a fabulous gin and elderflower cocktail. It’s a negroni variation that includes a splash of elderflower liqueur. This St Germain gin cocktail is simple to make and a fresh-tasting twist on a classic cocktail.
Jump to:
Dear Jane… This feels like a cocktail devised especially for me. You see, my favourite drink is a negroni and this gin and elderflower cocktail is, without a doubt, a negroni variation. I’ve also been known to pen one or two meaningful letters over the years (yes, even in this digital age). I firmly believe that written words can be invaluable… but that’s another story.
What is the Dear Jane cocktail?
The Dear Jane cocktail has, at its heart, all the ingredients of a classic negroni (gin, Campari and red vermouth). To this, a dash of elderflower liqueur is added.
This gin and elderflower cocktail was created by Zachary Gelnaw-Rubin at New York City bar Attaboy in 2015.
The original version uses 1oz gin, 1oz Campari, ¾oz red vermouth and ¼ oz elderflower liqueur. However, I prefer to use ½oz of both the red vermouth and elderflower liqueur for more pronounced floral notes.
If you enjoy elderflower and gin cocktails don’t miss my version of The English Garden, my summer gin & tonic recipe or my award-winning winter gin & tonic.
Why you’ll love this cocktail
- Quick & easy – this recipe is mixed within 2 minutes.
- No fancy bar equipment is needed – you can use a cocktail jug but you can also use a kitchen jug.
- Deliciously different – despite its simplicity, this negroni variation serves up elegance and classic flavours laced with sweet floral notes. It’s a delectable pairing of elderflower with gin.
Ingredients notes
Elderflower liqueur – I use St Germain Elderflower Liqueur but you can use alternatives or even make your own.
Gin – go for a gin with floral notes if you can. Failing that, a standard London Dry with zesty notes is good. Or an Old Tom if you are partial to this style of gin.
Campari – the one and only. There are not many substitutes for Campari, especially not for this St Germain gin cocktail. The only viable one is Select, but it’s not too easy to pick up in the UK.
Red vermouth – I’m a cheap date when it comes to red vermouth in my negroni, preferring the relatively simple, light and fresh taste of Martini Rosso. It’s also purse-friendly compared to some of the alternative, more complex red vermouths around.
I often find the depth of flavour in these more full-bodied vermouths a little overpowering in my negroni, so use a half measure compared to the amount of gin and Campari used. In the case of the Dear Jane cocktail, I recommend keeping the red vermouth on the lighter side too, so again I suggest Martini Rosso.
Equipment notes
You’ll need a jug to mix this drink. If you have a cocktail mixing jug then great. If not, a regular kitchen jug works just as well. You’ll also need to strain the drink as it is poured. You can either use a small kitchen sieve, a hawthorne strainer or a julep strainer.
Step by step instructions
Full instructions and measurements are given in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Pour the gin, Campari, vermouth and elderflower liqueur into a cocktail mixing jug half filled with ice.
Step 2. Stir the drink briskly for 30 seconds until nicely chilled and diluted.
Step 3. Strain your drink into a rocks glass holding plenty of ice. Take a strip of lemon zest, twist it over the glass to release the oil and then use it to garnish your drink. If you have some fresh elderflower to hand add a small sprig as a final flourish.
Top Tip: Don’t skip mixing your cocktail with ice and then straining it into a glass holding fresh ice. If you don’t do this then your drink will be insufficiently chilled and insufficiently diluted.
Expert tips
- If possible, chill your serving glass in the freezer for 15 minutes before pouring the drink to ensure your cocktail is served ice-cold.
- If you intend to include fresh elderflowers in the garnish, ensure that they smell fresh, floral and creamy. Any flowers that smell musty or damp are past their best and should not be used.
More ways to garnish your cocktail
This gin and elderflower cocktail is begging to be garnished playfully:
- Swap the lemon zest for orange zest.
- Drop in a ripe strawberry.
- Add a sprig of fresh elderflowers if they are in season and you can pick some growing away from busy roads.
- Try adding in a sprig of fresh rosemary or even a couple of basil leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Pick a gin noted for floral qualities, such as Hendrick’s, Martin Miller’s or Silent Pool. For a slightly sweeter, particularly smooth version of the drink try Hayman’s Old Tom gin.
I do not recommend this substitution. Although elderflower liqueur is sweet, elderflower cordial is sweeter still and it has a more concentrated flavour.
Serving suggestions
This gin and elderflower cocktail is no ordinary negroni and food pairings should reflect this. Giving a nod to those sweet floral elements that the elderflower liqueur lends to this negroni variation I suggest the following accompaniments:
- Pear and prosciutto crostini.
- Goats cheese.
- Lemon and rosemary-infused olives.
- Mint & lemon hummus with breadsticks.
More negroni variations to try out
Have you made this gin and elderflower cocktail? Please give the recipe a rating or leave a comment – I love to hear how you get along with my creations.
Stay in touch: sign up to receive LittleSugarSnaps newsletters to hear when new recipes are published. You’ll get a free welcome e-book with my top baking tips and 5 favourite cake recipes. Or follow me on social media:
📖 Recipe
Dear Jane Cocktail (A Gin & Elderflower Cocktail)
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail mixing jug or a kitchen jug
- Strainer (hawthorne, julep or a small sieve)
Ingredients
- 30 ml Gin
- 30 ml Campari
- 15 ml Red vermouth or 22½ml if following the original recipe
- 15 ml Elderflower liqueur or 7.5ml if following the original recipe
Instructions
- Pour the gin, Campari, vermouth and elderflower liqueur into a cocktail mixing jug half filled with ice.
- Stir the drink briskly for 30 seconds until nicely chilled and diluted.
- Strain your drink into a rocks glass holding plenty of ice. Use a hawthorne strainer, julep strainer or a small sieve to do this so that the ice is held back in the jug.
- Take a strip of lemon zest, twist it over the glass to release the oil and then use it to garnish your drink. If you have some fresh elderflower to hand add a small sprig as a final flourish.
Notes
- Don’t skip mixing your cocktail with ice and then straining it into a glass holding fresh ice. If you don’t do this then your drink will be insufficiently chilled and insufficiently diluted.
- If possible, chill your serving glass in the freezer for 15 minutes before pouring the drink to ensure your cocktail is served ice-cold.
- If you intend to include fresh elderflowers in the garnish, ensure that they small fresh, floral and creamy. Any flowers that smell musty or damp are past their best and should not be used.
Jane Coupland
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I’ve enjoyed testing it out, photographing it and writing all about it. Thanks for reading this post.