Search
Close this search box.
Florodora Cocktail Recipe
Florodora Cocktail Recipe

Florodora

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.

Cocktail History

The Florodora is a classic cocktail that is believed to have been created in the early 1900s at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The recipe, which traditionally mixes dry gin with lime, raspberry, simple syrup, and ginger ale, was named for six gorgeous dancers known as the Florodora Sextette who were the opening act in the Edwardian Broadway show of the same name.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Highclere Castle London Dry Gin because it has a bright and crisp juniper flavor with notes of citrus, angelica, and cassia. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Raspberry Syrup: This is a sweetener made with raspberries, white sugar, citric acid, and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s sous vide recipe.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.

Ginger Ale: This is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger. We used Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

Lime Slice: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a half wheel shape.

Raspberries: This is a small pink fruit. We used fresh raspberries.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Muddler: This is used to muddle ingredients. We used the HQY Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

Sale
Riedel Drink Specific Glassare Highball Glass, 10.94 Fluid Ounces
Riedel Drink Specific Glassare Highball Glass, 10.94 Fluid Ounces
All RIEDEL glasses are dishwasher safe; Capacity is 10.94 ounces; glass size is 2.56Lx2.56Wx6.06H (Inches)
$40.60 Amazon Prime
Sale
Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Rocks & Highballs, Set of 8, 10.87 fl.oz.
Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Rocks & Highballs, Set of 8, 10.87 fl.oz.
This pack contains 8 pieces; Machine-made and dishwasher safe; Rocks Glass Capacity = 10 oz.; Highball Glass Capacity = 10 7/8 oz.
$94.16 Amazon Prime
Sale
Luigi Bormioli Bach 16.25 oz. Beverage/Hiball/Glass, Set of 4, 4 Count (Pack of 1), Clear
Luigi Bormioli Bach 16.25 oz. Beverage/Hiball/Glass, Set of 4, 4 Count (Pack of 1), Clear
Set includes: Bach 16. 25 oz. Beverage/Hiball/Glass, Set of 4; Made with SON. hyx non-leaded crystal
$36.61 Amazon Prime
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
Sturdy, stainless steel blade; Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle ensures a safe grip; Hand wash with warm, soapy water and promptly dry
$12.99 Amazon Prime
OXO SteeL Muddler with Non-Scratch Nylon Head and Soft Non-Slip Grip, Silver, 9-Inch
OXO SteeL Muddler with Non-Scratch Nylon Head and Soft Non-Slip Grip, Silver, 9-Inch
Perfect for muddling fresh herbs, citrus fruits and more; Generous nylon head won’t damage glass
$16.95 Amazon Prime
I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Picks Martini Picks Set (Pack of 15)
I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Picks Martini Picks Set (Pack of 15)
Measure: 4.25″; Material: stainless steel 304, color: silver; Reusable martini olive skewers, stainless steel olive stuffer.
$5.98 Amazon Prime

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-08.

Tasting Notes

The Florodora features the aroma of lime, the friendly and fairly sweet taste of berry and ginger flavors balanced by botanicals in the gin, citrus, and sugar, and an aftertaste with berry-flavored lime bitterness.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: While variations of this drink sometimes call for a raspberry liqueur, we went with muddled raspberries instead because we knew they’d amplify the pink color and lend more natural flavor. The result was incredibly delicious, even more so than we expected considering we somehow hadn’t heard of this cocktail before. We both found it very easy to sip, and because it features so few complex flavors and very little spice, we thought it would make a great crowd-pleaser when you’re mixing drinks for friends who aren’t too adventurous with their gin drinks. 

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’m definitely adding this cocktail to my list of favorite simple drinks for summertime! I had never heard of the Floradora before our tasting, and I’m not sure how because it is absolutely fabulous, especially for those with more undeveloped palates like mine. Its mix of sweet-tart flavors mask the sometimes overpowering botanicals of gin, and the ginger ale is a nice, light touch to help stretch out the drink for longer sipping. I personally have come to love gin in just about any cocktail, but if you don’t usually care for it, trying this recipe is a great way to introduce it to your palate because the flavor is so subtle. On the flip side, this might not be for you if you do enjoy the complex taste of gin.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.

Sale
The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes
The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes
Hardcover Book; Editors of PUNCH (Author); English (Publication Language); 352 Pages – 09/05/2017 (Publication Date) – Ten Speed Press (Publisher)
$12.38 Amazon Prime

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-08.

Florodora

The Florodora is a classic cocktail that is believed to have been created in the early 1900s at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The recipe, which traditionally mixes dry gin with lime, raspberry, simple syrup, and ginger ale, was named for six gorgeous dancers known as the Florodora Sextette who were the opening act in the Edwardian Broadway show of the same name.

Prep Time 3 mins Assembly Time 2 mins Total Time 5 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Servings: 1 Calories: 175 Best Season: Spring

Ingredients

Method

  1. Add five raspberries, raspberry syrup, and simple syrup to a shaker.

  2. Muddle gently.

  3. Add gin, lime juice, and cubed ice.

  4. Shake for 10-20 seconds.

  5. Double strain into a highball glass over fresh cracked ice.

  6. Top with ginger ale.

  7. Garnish with lime slice and two raspberries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:
How do I make this cocktail recipe non-alcoholic?

Use MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin to try a mocktail version of this drink.

Rate this recipe

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pin Recipe
Share Recipe
Email Recipe

About The Author

Kendall is the creator of Novel Nightcaps, a mixology blog chronicling recipes she tries from her cocktail book collection.