Light & Airy Butterfly Drink That's a Spring Celebration

Get ready to spread your wings and flutter away with a taste of this sweet citrus and floral cocktail.

Updated February 3, 2024
Butterfly drink cocktail

The butterfly drink tastes exactly like you think something named after a butterfly would... light, ethereal, and just a little bit like flowers (in the best way possible). So, if you want a drink that tastes like spring in a glass, the butterfly cocktail is the one for you.

How to Make a Butterfly Drink

We love the combo of elderflower liqueur and lemon in this drink — it's a light and refreshing floral cocktail

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces vodka
  • 2 ounces white grape juice
  • ¼ ounce elderflower liqueur
  • ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice
  • Lemon slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, white grape juice, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into the chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with a lemon slice.

Variations and Substitutions of the Butterfly Drink

Make a few tweaks, changes, and substitutions to your butterfly drink to make it your own.

  • Play around with different flavors of vodka, such as lemon, orange, pineapple, or vanilla. You can take the flavor one step further by infusing your own vodka at home.
  • Instead of lemon juice, you can swap in lime juice or use a mix of both.
  • Muddle a couple of sliced grapes for a tart grape flavor.
  • If you like your martinis on the sour side, add an extra quarter ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
  • Top off with a splash of prosecco for an elegant and fizzy touch.
  • Give it butterfly-like coloration by replacing the vodka with Empress 1908 gin or another butterfly pea flower gin.

Related: Make a Creamy Hummingbird Drink That'll Give You Wings

Garnishes

The butterfly drink can easily inspire creative garnishes. After all, it's only fitting to add a grand final touch to a name that inspires beauty.

  • Garnish with an edible flower, such as hibiscus, chamomile blossom, lilac, or rose.
  • Give it butterfly shimmer with some edible petal dust or glitter. 
  • Instead of a lemon slice, use a lemon wheel, ribbon, or peel.
  • Consider a dehydrated lemon wheel for an intriguing look.
  • Float a lemon wheel on top of the drink, placing a flower petal or two on top of the wheel.

Taking Flight in a Martini Glass

Don't let the name fool you; the butterfly in this drink comes from its light and airy taste. Although, if you wanted to include a splash of butterfly pea flower, go ahead and spread those wings of your dream. Regardless of how you emerge from a chrysalis, the butterfly drink will capture your attention.

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Light & Airy Butterfly Drink That's a Spring Celebration