With sweet apple juice, floral elderflower, and fizzy ginger ale,
this apple & elderflower mocktail will transport to you summertime in
the UK.
inspiration
With the Eras Tour dominating music headlines, I decided it was high time to do another Taylor Swift-inspired mocktail! This one is half inspired by her song “London Boy,” which is a fun, deeply campy bop that pays tribute to her British then-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.
One of the most interesting parts of living abroad was seeing what flavor combinations were common there. The UK loves combinations like cheese & onion, brie & cranberry, apple and elderflower. There was a grocery store about 20 minutes’ walk away from our apartment and we’d walk down there to pick up a carton of apple elderflower juice, and it was always gone in a matter of days.
Because the UK as a whole has a big drinking culture, there are also more non-alcoholic options besides soda when you go out to a restaurant. Soda is great and all, but something you just want a fun, fruity, fizzy little drink to make a night out with friends feel a little special.
So when it came time to decide what flavors felt like London Boy, it was a no-brainer!
why i love this recipe
Cloudy apple juice and delicate, floral elderflower combine to form something complex, floral, and fruity. A bit of ginger ale turns it into a true mocktail rather than just a juice. It’s super refreshing! The fizz and the sweet apple hit first, and then the elderflower blooms on your tongue.
Pour the apple & elderflower mocktail into a mason jar and head out to your porch with a book for maximum summertime vibes!
details
Elderflower is the flower of the elder tree, which is where elderberries come from. It’s not so common in United States cuisine, but it should be! If the word “floral” scares you off a bit, rest assured that unlike some other flowers (lavender, rose), elderflower does not taste like licking a petal straight off the stem or drinking an essential oil. It’s citrusy and fruity, and can have notes of pear or lychee as well. If you’re new to it, use a light hand with the syrup until you figure out how much you like.
These are so straightforward it seems silly to have any instructions here. Take the glass you chose (size is up to you). Fill it with as much ice as you like, then fill halfway with ginger ale. Top it off with apple juice, then add elderflower syrup to taste. (Start with 1/2 pump per small glass, 1 for medium, or 2 pumps for a large one.)
notes
Ginger ale: I like this best for its mild flavor. If you want to really focus on the apple, use sparkling water. If you want to play up elderflower’s citrus notes, use Sprite, 7-Up, or another lemon-lime soda.
Apple juice: Use the good, thick, cloudy apple juice from the refrigerated section. I used this one, which is super easy to find!
Elderflower syrup: I used this one because it was the most readily available. Don’t be scared off by its size—drink syrups last for a very long time and it’s nice to have them on hand to jazz up an otherwise boring soda or sparkling water.
Leftovers: You can mix the apple and elderflower together before serving, but don’t add the ginger ale until the last minute or it’ll lose its fizz!
I hope you love this apple & elderflower mocktail as much as I do!
Looking for other warm-weather drinks? Try cruel summer mocktails or caramel apple shakes.
apple & elderflower mocktails (the london girl)
Ingredients
Method
- Add ice to cups to taste. Fill glasses halfway with ginger ale, then the same amount of apple juice. Add elderflower to taste–I recommend half a pump to one pump for small cups and two for larger ones. Stir with a spoon to incorporate the syrup, then serve!
Can’t wait to try it!
I hope you like it!!