This refreshing cocktail is perfect sipped at a brunch or outdoors on the deck. It is bubbly and refreshing with a splash of citrus. Consider buying mom a bottle of St. Germain Elderflower Liquor for Mother’s Day and giving her this recipe handwritten in a card.

Saint Germain is a delicate, balanced liqueur made from elderflowers. It delivers hints of pear, apricot, lychee and grapefruit zest—plus a bit of tartness to balance it out. Elderflowers have a unique, sweet fragrance reminiscent of honey spiced with a little clove and ginger. It’s no wonder that bees (and humans) find them irresistible.

Elderflowers grow abundantly in California, and you can pick their blossoms and berries in gardens and in the wild throughout the summer. Be careful to separate them from the stems, as other parts of the plant are toxic.

The Elder Blossom
Yields one cocktail

Ingredients
1 ounce White Rum
1 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur
1 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup*
4 ounces Chandon Sweet Star sparkling wine

Directions
Pour the white rum, St. Germain, grapefruit juice and simple syrup into a glass, stir and add ice. Top with sparkling rosé. Garnish with lemon wheel and fresh elderflower blossoms that have been separated from the stem.

*Simple Syrup
To make the simple syrup, combine 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring continuously, until all the sugar has dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool before using.