The Port Elderflower cocktail is a lightly sweet concoction I put together one night when I was in the mood for port. I got to wondering what it tastes like with one of my favorite liqueurs, St. Germain Elderflower.
You don’t run into port cocktails that much. We usually think of port as a sipping spirit rather than the basis of a cocktail. This cocktail bears some similarity to a Rum Sangaree, which blends port with dark rum and Cointreau. It also resembles the Crimson Cocktail, which uses gin rather than rum, and adds in some lemon juice.
I had hoped the combination of port and elderflower liqueur might be good, but it turned out to be delicious. I added light rum as a base, hoping both to lighten it up and give it a little more kick. To my surprise, the rum enhanced and sharpened the flavors of both of the other liqueurs, bringing out the fruity and floral notes of the other two liqueurs. It’s smooth as can be, and only moderately sweet. Everything about it is easy to love.
This combination makes a wonderful nightcap or after dinner drink. If want to have it with a meal, it pairs well with seasoned meats, particularly those that already have a strong flavor such as prosciutto or salmon. Look for recipes that feature seasonings like garlic or black peppercorn, like this Peppercorn and Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Ricotta Herb Polenta from Mommyhood’s Diary.
It might sound like a heavy cocktail, but the rum makes it light enough that you could enjoy it over ice at a barbecue.
Port Elderflower Drink Recipe
- 1 1/2 ounces light rum
- 1 ounce port
- 3/4 ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and add all three ingredients. Shake well until chilled, and then strain the mixture into an old-fashioned glass.
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