White Linen

Name: White Linen
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: 45 ml / 1.5 oz Gin; 30 ml / 1 oz St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur; 22.5 ml / 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice; 15 ml / 0.5 oz Simple Syrup; 3 slices Cucumber Slices

Ingredients Instructions

The White Linen is an elegant and contemporary cocktail that perfectly balances botanical gin with the sweet, floral notes of St-Germain elderflower liqueur. Freshly muddled cucumber provides a cool, crisp base, while lemon juice adds a bright, citrusy tartness. It's a sophisticated yet approachable drink, often compared to a refined, floral gin sour. Its clean and light character makes it a popular choice for spring and summer occasions.

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time

Difficulty

Drink Classification

The White Linen is classified as a modern cocktail. It falls into the "sour" family of drinks, balanced with sweet, sour, and spirit components. It is a refreshing gin-based drink, perfect for warmer weather.

Serving

Serve this cold, spirit-forward but refreshing drink in a chilled rocks glass filled with fresh ice. The alcohol content is moderate, making it a pleasant sipper.

Serving size

Approximately 120-150 ml (4-5 oz) before ice

Alcohol content

Approximately 18-22% ABV

Alcohol strength

Serving temperature

Cold

Glass type

Rocks glass

Glass treatment

Chilled

Backstory

The White Linen cocktail is a modern creation, widely attributed to bartender Robert Hess. It gained significant popularity in the mid-2000s, coinciding with the launch and rise of St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur. The name evokes imagery of clean, crisp linen sheets on a summer day, perfectly matching the drink's refreshing character. It has since become a staple on many craft cocktail menus.

Origin

United States, mid-2000s. The drink's creation is closely tied to the introduction of St-Germain liqueur in 2007.

White Linen

The drink is primarily known as the White Linen. It is sometimes generically referred to as a St-Germain Cocktail due to the prominent role of the elderflower liqueur. When topped with soda water and served in a tall glass, it is often called a Cucumber Elderflower Collins.

Original name

White Linen

Alternative names

St-Germain Cocktail
Cucumber Elderflower Collins

Characteristics overview

This drink presents a beautifully refreshing profile with a dominant floral and cucumber aroma and flavor. It is a well-balanced sweet and sour cocktail with a clean, crisp finish, perfect for spring and summer.

Flavor

Floral, cucumber, citrus, botanical, light

Aroma

Elderflower, fresh cucumber, juniper, lemon

Taste balance

Sweet, sour

Aftertaste

Clean, floral, crisp

Fizziness

None

Color appearance

Pale yellow-green, slightly cloudy, translucent

Texture

Smooth, light-bodied

Seasonality

Refreshing, summery, spring

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is moderately intense, defined by a perfect balance between sweetness from the elderflower liqueur and sourness from the fresh lemon. The alcohol presence is noticeable but well-integrated.

Sweetness

Saltiness

Sourness

Bitterness

Spiciness

Fruitiness

Creaminess

Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need gin as the base spirit, complemented by St-Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and slices of cucumber. Fresh ingredients are key to this cocktail's crisp flavor.

Gin45 ml / 1.5 oz
A London Dry Gin with classic botanical notes works best.
St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur30 ml / 1 oz
This is the key ingredient; other elderflower liqueurs can be substituted.
Fresh Lemon Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
Must be freshly squeezed for best results.
Simple Syrup15 ml / 0.5 oz
1:1 ratio of sugar to water. Adjust to taste.
Cucumber Slices3 slices
For muddling. Use seedless or English cucumbers for a less bitter taste.

Ice type

Cubed

Mixing equipments

A standard cocktail shaker set is required, including a muddler to extract flavor from the cucumber and a fine strainer for a smooth texture. A jigger ensures accurate measurements for a balanced drink.

Cocktail shaker for shaking and chilling
Muddler for pressing the cucumber
Jigger for measuring ingredients
Hawthorne strainer for straining from the shaker
Fine mesh strainer for double straining

Instructions

The process involves muddling fresh cucumber, adding all liquid ingredients to a shaker with ice, and shaking until cold. The drink is then double strained into an ice-filled glass for a clean finish.

1. Place 3 cucumber slices at the bottom of a cocktail shaker and gently muddle to release their juices and oils.

2. Add the gin, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.

3. Fill the shaker with ice, secure the lid, and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds until well-chilled.

4. If garnishing with a cucumber ribbon, place it inside a chilled rocks glass now. Fill the glass with fresh ice.

5. Double strain the mixture from the shaker into the prepared glass to remove ice shards and cucumber pulp.

Garnishing

An elegant cucumber ribbon placed inside the glass before adding ice is the classic garnish. It adds visual appeal and enhances the cucumber aroma.

Cucumber Ribbon: Use a vegetable peeler to create a long, thin ribbon of cucumber and curl it inside the glass.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is naturally free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, soy, and nuts. It is typically gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian.

✓ Contains alcohol

✓ Caffeine-free

✓ Dairy-free

✓ Egg-free

✓ Soy-free

✓ Nut-free

✓ Gluten-free

✓ Vegan-friendly

✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail has a moderate calorie and sugar content, primarily from the elderflower liqueur and simple syrup. The total carbohydrates are also in the moderate range for a cocktail.

Calories

Approximately 190-220 kcal / 795-920 kJ

Calories level

Carbohydrates

Approximately 15-18 g

Carbohydrate level

Sugar

Approximately 14-17 g

Sugar level

Occasions

This drink is perfect for warm weather events like summer parties, brunches, and garden gatherings. Its light and refreshing nature also makes it an excellent aperitif or pre-dinner cocktail.

Summer parties
Brunch
Garden parties
Pre-dinner drink
Cocktail hour

Pairing suggestions

The White Linen pairs beautifully with light and fresh foods. Its floral and citrus notes complement seafood, salads, and soft cheeses like goat cheese. Avoid pairing it with heavy or spicy dishes that could overpower its delicate flavors.

Light appetizers
Seafood, such as oysters or shrimp cocktails
Goat cheese and crackers
Salads with vinaigrette dressing

White Linen: A Sip of Summer Elegance

The White Linen is a quintessential modern classic that embodies elegance and refreshment. Its simple yet sophisticated profile combines the botanical complexity of gin with the enchanting floral sweetness of St-Germain and the crispness of fresh cucumber and lemon. Easy to make yet impressive to serve, it has secured its place as a go-to cocktail for warm weather, garden parties, or any occasion that calls for a light, bright, and utterly delicious drink. It is a testament to how a well-balanced new creation can quickly become a beloved standard.

Similar cocktails

Elderflower Gimlet

A simpler drink, typically just gin, elderflower liqueur, and lime juice. It lacks the cucumber element.

Gin Basil Smash

Another modern gin sour that relies on muddled herbs (basil instead of cucumber) for its primary flavor. It does not typically use elderflower liqueur.