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The Bohemian is a modern classic made with gin, fresh grapefruit juice, elderflower liqueur, and Peychaud’s bitters. It’s a phenomenally balanced and citrus-forward cocktail that is smooth and botanical thanks to the gin and elderflower.
Table of Contents
Brief History
The Bohemian is a mysterious cocktail with unknown origins. I was only able to trace it back to the early 2000s in the Boston area. To be honest, I’m not even sure where I first tried this cocktail, but it may have been the now-closed Drink cocktail bar in Boston’s Seaport.
My optional variation/twist takes the original rendition a step further and incorporates a frothy egg white addition. If you enjoy egg whites in cocktails, this is an excellent way to turn this into a sour-style spinoff.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Gin: I typically use London dry gin but you can also experiment with different flavored gins (Bully Boy is a local favorite of mine).
- Elderflower liqueur: there are numerous elderflower brands on the market. St. Germaine and St. Elder are the two most popular. If you enjoy elderflower liqueur, also try the Garden Party and Pear Martini.
- Fresh grapefruit juice: always use fresh citrus. Save the leftover juice for a Grapefruit Margarita, Hemingway Daiquiri, or a Brown Derby!
- Peychaud’s bitters: Peychaud bitters are red in appearance and offer an anise-forward, licorice-like flavor. These are critical to the signature flavor of the cocktail. Angostura will not provide the same flavor profile.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.
Expert TIps
- If adding optional egg white, dry shake the cocktail (with no ice) for 10 seconds before adding ice and chilling. This is to help whip up the egg white without water. For a vegan alternative, substitute 1 ounce of aquafaba (chickpea water from a can of chickpeas). It’s flavorless and can be treated the same way as egg white.
- Chill your glasses in the freezer. A cold glass prevents warming and keeps your drink colder for longer.
- Shaking with larger ice cubes will prevent the ice from breaking down and producing small ice chips. This makes straining easier and enhances egg white foam and head retention.
More Gin Cocktails
Enjoy this recipe? If you made this cocktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments!
Bohemian Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces gin, London dry gin
- 1 ounce elderflower liqueur, St. Elder or St. Germain
- 3/4 ounce fresh grapefruit juice, pink or red
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
- 1 egg white (optional variation), or aquafaba, see note below
Instructions
- Combine gin, elderflower, Peychaud’s bitters, and grapefruit juice in a shaker with ice.
- Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Express the lemon peel over the drink and garnish.
Egg white variation
- Combine gin, elderflower, Peychaud bitters, grapefruit juice, and egg white in a shaker without ice. Dry shake for 15-20 seconds. This is to help whip up the egg white without water.
- Add ice and shake for 5-10 seconds. This will chill the drink. Don't over shake.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. This is especially important for egg white cocktails and proper head retention.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I tried it at Drink in Seaport too! Lovely Irish bartender served me the drink, told me the name, the ingredients (noted it was a rough 1:1 for all ingredients and a few dashes of bitters), and made the night all the better. The place will be missed but the recipe lives on.
In the early 2000’s the Bohemian was served at the Green Street Grill in Cambridge 🙂
Very yummy, I’ve made it ever since trying it.
Cool! I didn’t know that – it’s a fantastic cocktail.
Love this. I am wondering what the two reish/rose colored drops on the egg white foam are? I added the bitters into the shaker.
Two drops of Peychaud bitters! you can add more as a garnish.