elderflower

noun

el·der·flow·er ˈel-dər-ˌflau̇(-ə)r

: the flower of an elderberry (such as Sambucus nigra) used especially in making wines, liqueurs, and teas

On its own, this 40-proof liqueur, said to be the first made from fresh elderflowers hand-picked in the Alps and macerated in eau de vie, is pretty intense unless it's cut with ice and a splash of soda.—

Florence Fabricant

… Percy heaved an impressive sigh and took a deep swig of elderflower wine …—

J. K. Rowling

Examples of elderflower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Solar Mule blends dark rum with ginger beer and elderflower liqueur; the Snake Bite Eclipse features half a glass of Ciderboys hard cider topped with a dark pour of Quaff On! —

The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024 The Bombay Nights is made with Bombay Sapphire dry gin, elderflower liqueur, lime and a puff of cotton candy floating on top. —

Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024 Combine the rosé, vodka, elderflower liqueur, strawberries, and watermelon in a 64-ounce jar. —

Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024 Recipes include citrus brandy, cold-brew coffee, yuzu, and shiso, or gin, seaweed, kaffir lime, and elderflower. —

Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 And the flavor is complex: citrusy, thanks to the grapefruit, but also a touch floral, courtesy of both the elderflower and Lillet, with the latter adding a hard-to-pinpoint complexity. —

Emily Heil, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2024 It's made with prosecco, elderflower liqueur, fresh mint, and lime. —

Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024 Hugo spritz Many drink experts can’t point to a single social-media influencer or pop-culture moment to explain why, but the Hugo spritz — a mix of elderflower liquor, prosecco and club soda over a generous scoop of ice — somehow emerged from the pack to be crowned the drink of the summer. —

Emily Heil, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023 Fresh, lightly sweet, and not overly strong, this drink combines grapefruit juice, elderflower liqueur (typically St-Germain), Lillet Blanc, gin, and a bit of lemon bitters. —

Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elderflower.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.