The 8 Best Substitutes For St. Germain

What can I use instead of St. Germain? The best substitute for St. Germain is St. Elder Natural Elderflower liqueur. You can also use Fiorente Italian Elderflower Liqueur, Bols Elderflower Liqueur, The Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur, Chase Elderflower Liqueur, and Giffard Fleur de Sureau Sauvage. Non-alcoholic alternatives include Escape Mocktail Elderflower Liqueur cocktail and elderflower syrup.

St. Germain is a sweet French alcoholic liqueur made from elderflower blossoms. The liqueur was created in 2007 by Robert J Cooper. The distinctive sweet, floral taste of St. Germain works well in cocktails, and it can also be served neat as an aperitif. Since 2012, the St Germain brand has been owned by Bacardi.

The Best St. Germain Substitutes

St. Elder Natural Elderflower Liqueur

St. Elder is an elderflower liqueur produced in small batches in Somerville, Massachusetts. Like St Germain, it is made from the extract of elderflower blossoms.

Since it is locally produced, St. Elder is less expensive than St Germain, and the taste is almost identical. The only notable difference is that St Elder contains 5% more alcohol than St Germain.

St. Elder can be used in the same applications as St Germain.

Some users may miss the distinctive St Germain Art Deco style bottle that it comes in, but the taste is very similar, and the lower price makes it an attractive substitute for the original.

Fiorente Italian Elderflower Liqueur

Fiorente Italian Elderflower Liqueur is the Italian version of the French St. Germain Liqueur. The source of the elderflowers used to make the floral beverage is the picturesque foothills of the Alps.

The elderflower extract provides a dominant taste profile similar to St. Germain but also includes hints of mind and citrus peel.

The overall result is slightly more complex and herby than St.Germain, but the difference will not be notable when it is used as a mixer in cocktails.

Use Fiorente Italian Elderflower in the same mixes as St Germain, as it is an excellent alternative. It is also less expensive than St Germain.

Bols Elderflower Liqueur

Bols Elderflower Liqueur is an excellent alternative for a taste experience that is very similar to St. Germain but at a fraction of the cost. It is a no-frills version of the famous French drink.

The taste is slightly more floral than St. Germain – one source described it as being rather like having ‘daisies in a glass.’ However, it is an excellent substitute for St. Germain, and the drink was launched as a direct competitor to the famous drink.

Use Bols in all mixes where you would use St. Germain. The taste is a little milder than St. Germain, and it works well as a standalone drink or aperitif.

The Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur

The Bitter Truth has a range of spirits and liqueurs produced in Germany. The Elderflower Liqueur variety carries the same distinctive elderflower taste as St. Germain, and it can work well as a substitute.

One of the noticeable differences between The Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur and St. Germain is that it is less sweet.

In addition to the floral taste provided by the elderflower blossoms, Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur also contains fruity hints of grapes and quince.

There is little difference between the two products in terms of cost. St. Germain is slightly pricier, but not by much.

The Bitter Truth Elderflower liqueur can be used in the same mixes as St. Germain, and it may be preferred by anyone who likes a less sweet taste.

Chase Elderflower Liqueur

Chase Elderflower Liqueur is a product of the United Kingdom. It is a handmade variety that uses the same distinctive blossoms as St Germain to create a liqueur with many of the same characteristics.

Chase Elderflower Liqueur is less sweet than St. Germain but still carries notes of apricot jam and honey. The overall impact of the product is fresh, floral, and honeyed.

Compared to St. Germain, Chase elderflower liqueur has a more concentrated taste and is less sweet overall. It can be used as a stand-in for St Germain in all the same applications.

Giffard Fleur de Sureau Sauvage Liqueur

Giffard’s Wild Elderflower Liqueur is marketed under the much longer name of Giffard Fleur de Sureau Sauvage. Like St Germain, it is produced in France.

This wild elderflower liqueur’s taste and the overall impression is strongly reminiscent of St. Germain. It has the same floral aromas with a hint of citrus and is like an older relative to the relatively new St. Germain brand.

Giffard Fleur de Sureau Sauvage can be used in the same ratio as St. Germain. It contains the same alcohol content along with the distinctive taste of fresh elderflower blossoms.

Escape Mocktail Elderflower Liqueur Cordial

For a refreshing mocktail experience that is most similar to St Germain, try an elderflower liqueur cordial. There are various brands available, with one of the best-known being Escape Mocktails.

Like the famous St. Germain liqueur, cordial versions of the beverage get their flavor from elderflowers. Instead of infusing it with alcohol, it is blended with other flavors like lemon and honey.

Elderflower Liqueur cordial is the best alternative to St Germain for anyone who wants the same flavor without alcohol.

It can be blended into drinks and added to cocktails to give the same St. Germain sophistication.

Elderflower Syrup

Elderflower syrup is a thick substance made from the flowers of the Sambucus tree. It is most frequently used as a topping on pancakes or desserts. The flavored syrup is made by simmering elderflower blossoms with sugar.

Take note that elderflower syrup and elderberry syrup are not the same. Only elderflower syrup can be used as a non-alcoholic, sweet alternative for St. Germain in some applications.

Use elderflower syrup to give the familiar floral notes and sweetness of St. Germain.

It works well as an additive with other ingredients as the mixture is not complex enough and too thick and syrupy to work well on its own.