St. Germain and Elderflower Rhubarb Bubbles

Fridays are for wearing sweatpants to work.  Fridays are for feeling justified for spending half the day browsing the internet for non-work related items.  Fridays are for planning all the awesome things you will do on the weekend.  Fridays are for that unmatched feeling of looking forward to two whole days where you don’t have to wake up early.

Fridays are for opening the bottle of wine while cooking.  Fridays are for cocktails.

This cocktail was inspired by a series of Downton Abbey cocktails from the Kitchn “The Sybil” except minus the gin and plus rhubarb syrup (because I had leftover rhubarb).  It seems like elderflower liqueur is everywhere nowadays so I finally needed to buy some and it’s amazing!  The taste is slightly floral, but reminds me of white grape juice or white cranberry juice.  I could sip this straight with just a lemon garnish.  But we’re going even further today...


The rhubarb syrup is made not too sweet so that it doesn’t become cloying when paired with the liqueur.  It would also be delicious as an Italian soda... just saying.  

I love some sparkling wine to start the weekend.  Makes it feel like a celebration. 

The rhubarb adds a nice tartness to the floral of the liqueur and the bubbles tickle my nose.  So mix some up and celebrate your weekend!

Elderflower Rhubarb Bubbles

1/2 oz elderflower liqueur such as St. Germain
1/2 oz rhubarb syrup (recipe follows)
Dry sparkling wine

Pour rhubarb syrup and liqueur into a champagne flute and mix well.  Top with sparkling wine. 

Rhubarb syrup

500g rhubarb, cut into small pieces
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Put all ingredients into a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.  Once the rhubarb has fallen apart, strain into a clean bowl through a fine sieve to remove the rhubarb pulp.  This pulp is delicious and would be amazing on yogurt or to top muesli.  I’m giving myself ideas...

Return liquid to the saucepan and reduce until it coats the back of a spoon (by about half).  Cool and use in cocktails or Italian sodas!