Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Sour

Is there any spring flavor combination more classic than strawberry and rhubarb? This bright, sweet, and tart gin cocktail features a quick strawberry rhubarb syrup, fresh lemon juice, and ginger liqueur.

Many of my favorite spring cocktails are made with gin, and for good reason! Crisp juniper and citrus pair beautifully with spring produce like ripe strawberries and tangy rhubarb. Gin also works well in floral cocktails, another spring staple. If you like floral, try my Violet Gin Fizz.

I recently made this Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup Recipe and I was immediately inspired to pair it with a gin and ginger. Ginger adds a zesty note that complements both the sour rhubarb and the sweet strawberries.

Strawberry rhubarb syrup is also the perfect spring addition to a classic Mimosa. Find that easy recipe and more cocktail inspiration over on Instagram!

Cocktail ingredients

This gin sour is made with four ingredients. Some gin sours are made with egg whites, but I've opted to skip them here to keep all the flavors as vibrant as possible.

Gin

Choose any gin you enjoy. I like a bright, piney or citrusy gin for the recipe. I used the lovely Gray Whale Gin, which I recently tried for the first time. Some other gins I'd recommend are Junipero, Citadelle, or Tanqueray.

Strawberry rhubarb syrup

The strawberry rhubarb syrup is pretty quick and combines equal parts strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, and water. You only need about five minutes for cooking it, and then about twenty to thirty minutes to let it cool.

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about five to ten minutes. Allow the syrup to cool before straining out the solids with a fine mesh strainer. Store your finished syrup in a jar or bottle in the fridge for up to two weeks. Get the full Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup recipe.

Lemon juice

As always, use freshly squeezed lemon juice! I used regular lemons here but Meyer lemons could also be used.

Ginger liqueur or ginger syrup

I love the ginger liqueur Barrow’s Intense and it’s my go-to for cocktails. It’s spicy but also sweet, and tastes like fresh, zesty ginger. However, you can use a ginger syrup in this recipe instead such as the spicy Liber & Co Fiery Ginger Syrup or an easy, homemade ginger simple syrup.

How to make a super fast ginger syrup

Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of hot water and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Next, add 2 tablespoons of The Ginger People Ginger Juice and stir to combine. Instant ginger syrup with incredible flavor!

Egg white or no egg white?

Sours are a type of cocktail that combine spirits with citrus, sugar, and often egg whites. The egg white creates a fluffy white foam on the top of the drink when shaken. The foam also gives the cocktail a very smooth texture and softens the sharp acidity of the citrus and the booziness of the liquor.

While egg whites are a traditional gin sour ingredient, they are optional so I've omitted them here. It's up to you how you prefer your sours. You can also use an egg-free foamer like Fee Brothers Fee Foam Cocktail Foamer.

How to garnish with rhubarb

I like to garnish with a halved strawberry and a sprig of mint for added freshness.

If you have any leftover rhubarb, use a vegetable peeler to peel off a thin ribbon-like piece. You can add it to the glass before pouring, like I did here, or you could skewer it with a cocktail pick like a cucumber ribbon.

Rhubarb ribbons are a bit tricky to work with if they’re too thin because the flesh is very fibrous, so use a sharp peeler to get a thick enough piece.

What I love about this cocktail

To me, the combination of strawberry and rhubarb is a quintessentially spring flavor. I love the contrast of sweet and tart flavors and it just tastes like warmer days ahead. And since rhubarb is only available in the store (or the garden) for a limited time, there's just something extra special about it.

More strawberry rhubarb cocktails to enjoy

There are so many more cocktails to make with these flavors. Here are a few easy favorites.

Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Fizz

To make a Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Fizz, simply serve this gin sour with over ice and top it with chilled club soda. If you want to make things even simpler, you can skip the ginger liqueur.

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz strawberry rhubarb simple syrup
• 1 oz lemon juice
• ½ oz ginger liqueur (optional)
• 6-8 oz club soda

Strawberry Rhubarb Moscow Mule

If you want to make things even more gingery, replace the club soda with ginger beer! Make it a Moscow Mule with vodka in place of gin, or keep the gin and it's a Gin Buck. You could also use whiskey or tequila.

• 2 oz vodka (or other spirit of choice)
• ½ oz strawberry rhubarb simple syrup
• ½ oz lemon or lime juice
• 6 oz ginger beer

Strawberry Rhubarb Gin and Tonic

This is a super easy spring cocktail. Simply add a half ounce of the syrup to gin, chilled tonic, and a squeeze of lemon juice. It's even more springy and delicious if you use elderflower tonic water!

• 2 oz gin
• ½ oz strawberry rhubarb simple syrup
• ½ oz lemon or lime juice
• 6 oz tonic water

Strawberry & Rhubarb Old Fashioned

This yummy recipe comes from Inspired by Charm. It's the perfect mix of boozy, sweet and sour. Get Michael's Strawberry & Rhubarb Old Fashioned recipe.

• Bourbon
• Strawberry rhubarb syrup
• Rhubarb bitters

More spring cocktails to try:

• Spring Reviver (with Gin & Raspberries)
• Strawberry Basil Gin Sour
• Bee's Knees
• Peach Violet Empress Gin Sour
• Yellowjacket (with Gin and Yellow Chartreuse)

Made this cocktail? Tag me on Instagram and Pinterest!