Monarch

A gin cocktail with elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon, and rhubarb bitters, built on a base of muddled mint. Bright and floral with a light herbal edge and a clean, citrusy finish.

This cocktail is part of our Date Nite collection, made to be sipped while you cook together.

Get a free Date Nite menu →

Build Your Drink

INGREDIENT LIST

2 oz gin
½ oz elderflower liqueur
½ oz fresh lemon juice
¼ oz simple syrup
6 mint leaves
2 dashes rhubarb bitters

Cocktail Method

Add mint leaves and simple syrup to a shaker and muddle gently.
Add gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, rhubarb bitters, and ice.
Shake until well chilled.
Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist, a mint sprig, or both.

Notes from the Bar

Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.

RHUBARB BITTERS

We use rhubarb bitters here — they add a subtle tartness and floral depth that pairs really well with the elderflower. Lavender or peach bitters are both lovely alternatives if that's what you have on hand. → Link to our favorite rhubarb bitters

ELDERFLOWER LIQUEUR

St-Germain is the standard and works beautifully here. Its light floral sweetness is what gives this drink its softness. A small 375ml bottle will last you for a while. → Link to St-Germain elderflower liqueur

MUDDLING THE MINT

Muddle gently — just enough to release the oils without tearing the leaves. Over-muddling can make the mint taste bitter rather than fresh. Double straining keeps any leaf fragments out of the finished drink.

GIN RECOMMENDATION

A classic London Dry keeps this bright and lets the elderflower and lemon shine. Tanqueray or Beefeater are both solid choices here.

GARNISH

A lemon twist, a slapped mint sprig, or both all work. The mint sprig adds aroma as you sip which is a nice touch with this one.

Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.

A ritual we return to

Our cocktails are part of something bigger for us. They’re the beginning of Date Nite, a connection-centered experience we created to help you slow down, share a meal, and enjoy time with the one you love.

Each Date Nite is thoughtfully planned for you, so you are not stuck deciding what to cook or how to pull the night together. We pair one cocktail with a complete menu, a simple flow from prep to plate, and small details that make the evening feel easy and connected from start to finish.

It is not about perfection. It is about presence, and creating space to reconnect, whether that is with your partner or simply with yourself, over a really good meal.

Four nights.
No planning required.

Choose your menu, set the table, and enjoy the night.

Get 4 date nights for $15

Includes 4 complete menus, cocktail pairings, grocery lists, and more.

One-time purchase. No subscription.

Start with one free Date Nite menu

We created this for you — and the one you love.

Kevin & Kate

Our story, if you’d like to know us →

BACK TO COCKTAILS

Stories worth Savoring

Our latest blog posts for inspiration, reflections, and recipes.

Overhead shot of homemade ceviche in a white bowl with white fish, cherry tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, and fresh cilantro, styled on a marble surface alongside a green bowl of homemade tortilla chips, elote with cotija and chili, and a halved lime.

Homemade Ceviche Recipe with Crispy Tortilla Chips

This homemade ceviche recipe is fresh, bright, and simpler than you'd expect — flaky white fish cured in lime juice, creamy avocado, and served with crispy homemade tortilla chips.

The Monarch: A Gin Elderflower Cocktail — Our Signature Date Nite Drink

There are a few things that signal the beginning of Date Nite at our house. We turn on the music and set the table while dinner gets going in the kitchen. And somewhere in the middle of it all, Kevin chooses a cocktail or two and starts making us drinks. I love having a cocktail while I cook, so he'll usually decide what we're having, shake it up, and hand me a glass while dinner is coming together. That's when we toast, and honestly, that's the moment Date Nite officially be

6 Summer Margarita Recipes Worth Making at Home

Six summer margarita recipes for every mood — from a stripped-down Tommy's to a smoky pineapple mezcalita. These are the ones we make on Date Nite all summer long, with links to every full recipe.

Two homemade focaccia varieties on a cooling rack with a bread knife alongside, one plain with herbs and one topped with roasted cherry tomatoes and shallots.

Homemade Focaccia Recipe Two Ways with Dipping Oils

A light and airy homemade focaccia recipe two ways, with two homemade dipping oils. Adapted from Cook's Illustrated with a few technique tweaks that make all the difference.

Close-up of an amber vintage goblet holding a lit votive candle beside a green wine glass and a glass vase with trailing pothos clippings on a blush linen runner, warm candlelight in the background.

How to Create an Intimate Date Night Space at Home

Our drop-leaf table has lived in a bed-and-breakfast, a storage unit, and a narrow hallway pass-through. It took years to find its purpose. This is the story of how it became the heart of Date Nite — and everything we've learned about creating a table for two that actually makes you want to stay.

Seared halibut over creamy blended cannellini beans with roasted asparagus, capers, microgreens, and fresh chives in a white bowl, styled with crusty bread, lemon, and a gold fork.

How We Really Plan Our Date Night Menus

Last week I was sick. Nothing dramatic — just that slow, foggy kind of under-the-weather that dulls your appetite and makes everything feel like too much. So that became the menu. And the moment we sat down to eat it, I thought — this is why we do it this way.