Cherry Blossom Gin Cocktail

For me its not officially spring until the cherry blossoms have arrived. From Kyoto to Paris and destinations in between these pink and white blooms herald the arrival of springtime. I usually head to Washington DC to see the cherry blossoms and I decided to create a cocktail to highlight my favorite flowers of spring. This cherry blossom gin cocktail is light, floral and celebrates the best of the season.

The Casual Foodist contains affiliate links, when you make a purchase through these links the Casual Foodist receives a small commission that helps support this site at no additional cost to you.

The cherry blossoms in Washington DC were a gift of friendship from Japan to the American people in 1912, and today over 1.5 million people visit Washington DC each spring to see the cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms typically bloom between mid March and early April and throughout the city there are celebrations, events and special menus to celebrate the cherry blossoms and Japanese culture. This is my favorite time of year to visit Washington DC.

This Cherry Blossom Gin Cocktail was inspired by the Aviation, a classic gin cocktail from the early 1900s made with with gin, maraschino liqueur, creme de violet and lemon juice. The creme de violet gives the Aviation a beautiful purple color and a floral punch. I replaced the creme de violet with elderflower liqueur ( like St. Germain)  for some lighter floral notes and also since it’s something I always have on my home bar. To replicate the beautiful blush color of the blooms I used pink gin but a more traditional London dry style gin also turns out lovely if you can’t find a pink gin. I also like to add a few dashes of lavender bitter for an added layer of complexity.

How to make a Cherry Blossom Gin Cocktail

In a cocktail shaker add gin, maraschino liqueur (such as Luxardo), elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, bitters and ice. Shake until chilled, about 30 seconds. Place a maraschino cherry ( I love these Luxardo cherries!) in the bottom of a cocktail glass. Strain drink into cocktail glass and enjoy!

If you like this Cherry Blossom Gin Cocktail be sure to take a look at some of my other recipes!

Strawberry Mint Bourbon Smash

Pineapple Mezcal Margarita

Apple Cider Cable Car

Blueberry Lime Gin and Tonic

Cranberry Gin Fizz

Pomegranate Sidecar Cocktail

If you make this Cherry Blossom Gin Cocktail please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe please tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see what you guys are making!