Waterloo Sunset Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/22/21
Waterloo Sunset Cocktail

The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving

The Waterloo Sunset is a sweet Champagne cocktail that is made in layers. Perfect for spring and summer entertaining, the recipe from Beefeater Gin is a delightful twist on a couple of popular cocktails.

First, you have the interesting base of gin and elderflower liqueur in a sparkling wine drink that mimics an elderflower cocktail. Then, there is the "sunrise" element that is most commonly found in a tequila sunrise. In this case, however, the "rise" is attributed to raspberry liqueur instead of grenadine. It is a stunning cocktail for celebrating any occasion.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin

  • 1 ounce elderflower liqueur

  • 2 to 3 ounces Champagne, to taste

  • 1/4 ounce raspberry liqueur

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Waterloo Sunset Cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  2. In a mixing glass, stir the gin and elderflower liqueur with ice.

    Stir Beefeater 24 and elderflower liqueur with ice

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  3. Strain into a Champagne flute.

    Strain cocktail into a Champagne flute

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  4. Fill the glass with Champagne.

    Fill the glass the rest of the way with Champagne

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  5. Slowly pour the raspberry liqueur over the back of a bar spoon. Serve and enjoy.

    slowly pour the raspberry liqueur over the back of a bar spoon, into the cocktail

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

Tips

  • Beefeater 24 is the recommended gin for this drink. It's a twist on the standard bottle of gin from the brand. The primary difference is that two types of green tea (Japanese Sencha and Chinese green tea) are added to the list of botanicals.
  • For the elderflower liqueur, St. Germain is likely the easiest one to find. There are a few others on the market, including from brands like Bols, Fiorente, and Gifford.
  • Chambord is the best-known raspberry liqueur but, again, there are other options worth exploring. Bols, di Amore, and Rouge are just a few good choices.
  • When pouring the raspberry liqueur, using a spoon will disrupt the flow. It's a technique that's typically used for floating drink ingredients, but here the heavier liqueur should sink to the bottom and slowly rise as you drink. Don't stir the cocktail in the serving glass or you will lose the effect.

Recipe Variations

  • Any sparkling wine will do just fine in the Waterloo sunset. Champagne is often used in recipes because it's the best-known, but you can save money and still have a fabulous drink by pouring something like Prosecco or a sparkling rosé.
  • Though no garnish is suggested in the recipe, floating a few fresh raspberries on top of the drink is a lovely way to dress it up.
  • If you like, switch to the "original" sunrise ingredient and pour grenadine instead of a liqueur. You can also use other red fruit liqueurs, such as strawberry or crème de cassis.

How Strong Is a Waterloo Sunset?

It may have a sweet, effervescent taste, but the Waterloo sunset is not a light drink. A good indication of its strength is the fact that it's made entirely of alcohol, so it weighs in around 24 percent ABV (48 proof). That's not terribly powerful—more like a cosmopolitan—yet it is one of stronger champagne cocktails.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
335 Calories
0g Fat
21g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 335
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 8mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 74mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)