London, United Kingdom · 2004

Spicy Fifty

Also known as Spicy 50

A shaken vodka sour that leans heavily into fresh ginger and elderflower, giving it a sharp, aromatic kick.

spicygingerfloralelderflowervodkacitrussourshakenaperitif

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits with a bright, gingery bite that wakes up your palate, followed by the soft, floral sweetness of elderflower. The finish is clean and a little warm, with the ginger heat lingering at the back of your throat.

Who will like it

This is for people who like fresh, floral drinks but want a real spicy edge instead of just sweetness.

When to drink

Serve this as a bright, wake-up aperitif before a meal, or pour it at a summer party when you want something refreshing with a kick.

Ordering tip

Ask the bartender to go easy on the ginger syrup if you want just a hint of spice, or ask for extra if you want it to really burn.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $3–$5Glass: CoupeBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This drink hits you with fresh ginger heat right away, which is quickly softened by the sweet, perfumed taste of elderflower. The lime juice keeps it tart and crisp, so it never turns into a sticky-sweet mess. It drinks light and refreshing, but the ginger leaves a warm tingle at the back of your throat. The vodka is just a clean canvas here, letting the ginger and elderflower do all the talking.

Finish: The finish is short and warm, with the ginger heat lingering at the back of your throat after the liquid is gone.

Primary tastes

spicysweetfloral

Secondary

sourearthy

Aroma

fresh gingerelderflowercitrus

Sweetnessfairly sweet
The elderflower liqueur and ginger syrup give this a noticeably sweet backbone that balances the ginger heat.
Sournessbalanced acidity
The lime juice provides a moderate tartness that cuts through the sweetness and keeps the drink from feeling heavy.
Strengthmoderate strength
The vodka provides a solid alcoholic base at around 20% ABV, but the strong flavors mask the booze well.
Refreshingquite refreshing
Served cold and citrus-forward, the drink is crisp and waking, though the ginger warmth tempers the refreshment slightly.
Complexitymoderately complex
The interplay between the sharp ginger, floral elderflower, and tart lime gives the drink a few distinct layers to parse.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Coupe · equal parts on Vodka. A clean, neutral vodka works best here so the ginger and elderflower can shine.

Before you start

Put your coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes to get it frosty. Cut a thin slice of red chili and set it aside, and make sure your ginger syrup is well stirred if it's been sitting in the fridge.

Ingredients

VodkaBase Spirit50ml
Elderflower LiqueurLiqueurSt-Germain is the standard choice.15ml
Lime JuiceJuiceFreshly squeezed is mandatory.15ml
Ginger SyrupSyrupAdjust amount based on how spicy your homemade syrup is.15ml
Red ChilliGarnishA thin cross-section slice of a fresh red chili.1 slice

Garnish: Red chilli slice

Tools

Cocktail Shaker · Shaking
To shake and chill the drink while integrating the ginger syrup and lime juice.
At home: A large mason jar with a tight lid.
Jigger · Measuring
To measure the vodka, elderflower, lime, and ginger syrup accurately.
At home: A measuring shot glass or measuring spoons.
Hawthorne Strainer · Straining
To catch the ice and any chili seeds when pouring the drink into the glass.
At home: A fine mesh tea strainer.
Coupe Glass · Serving
To serve the chilled, up drink without ice diluting it further.
Cutting Board · Garnish
To safely slice the fresh red chili for the garnish.
Paring Knife · Garnish
To cut a thin, clean slice of chili.
Fine Strainer · optional · Straining
To double strain and keep tiny ice shards and chili seeds out of the finished drink.
At home: A small kitchen sieve.

Steps

1
Take your cocktail shaker and measure in 50ml of vodka, 15ml of elderflower liqueur, 15ml of fresh lime juice, and 15ml of ginger syrup. The liquid should look cloudy and pale yellow at this point.
!Using bottled lime juice will make the drink taste flat and metallic.
2
Fill the shaker about two-thirds full with ice cubes, making sure the ice comes up above the liquid line. Close the shaker tightly so it doesn't leak when you shake.
!Underfilling the ice makes the drink watery because the ice melts instead of chilling.
3
Shake the shaker hard for about 10 to 12 seconds until the outside of the metal tin feels ice cold and frosty. You want the ginger syrup and lime juice to be fully mixed and chilled down fast.
~12s
!Shaking too softly leaves the syrup heavy at the bottom instead of blended in.
4
Open the shaker and pour the drink through a Hawthorne strainer into your chilled coupe glass. If you have a fine mesh strainer, hold it over the glass and pour through both to catch any small ice chips or chili seeds.
!Pouring too fast can splash the drink over the rim of the coupe glass.
5
Take your thin slice of fresh red chili and place it gently on top of the drink so it floats in the center. The drink is ready to serve as soon as the garnish is on.
!Leaving the chili seeds in the slice can make the drink unexpectedly hot if a seed falls into the liquid.

Serve

Serve it right away in the chilled coupe glass while it is still frosty. The drink should look clear and pale, with the bright red chili slice floating on top.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Ginger Syrup

Ginger SyrupGinger Liqueur
Match
Specialty availability
Ginger Syrup → Ginger Liqueur: Adds more alcohol and a slightly less sharp, more rounded ginger flavor with less sugar.
Ginger SyrupHoney Ginger Syrup
Match
Specialty availability
Ginger Syrup → Honey Ginger Syrup: Makes the drink richer and slightly earthier, with the honey rounding out the ginger bite.

Swap options for Elderflower Liqueur

Elderflower LiqueurElderflower Syrup
Match
Common availability
Elderflower Liqueur → Elderflower Syrup: Delivers the same floral sweetness but without the extra alcohol, making the drink slightly lighter.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Gimlet

The Gimlet uses a simple syrup or cordial instead of ginger and elderflower, making it a straightforward tart-sweet drink without any spice or floral notes.

Match

While both are crisp, chilled vodka sours, the Gimlet is a clean, simple lime-sugar experience, whereas the Spicy Fifty is far more aromatic and ends with a noticeable ginger burn.

In common: Shaken, Served up, Citrus-forward

Ingredients

Both share

Vodka, Lime Juice

Only in Spicy Fifty

Elderflower Liqueur, Ginger Syrup, Red Chilli

Only in Gimlet

Simple Syrup

The Spicy Fifty replaces the Gimlet's simple syrup with ginger syrup and elderflower liqueur, adding a spicy kick and floral aroma that the Gimlet entirely lacks.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Bright lime acidity, Clean vodka base, Crisp, chilled texture

How Gimlet differs

Spicy instead of just sweet, Floral elderflower notes, Warmer finish

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

French Martini

The French Martini uses pineapple juice and raspberry liqueur for a fruity, tropical profile, while the Spicy Fifty is sharp, floral, and spicy.

Match

The French Martini is thick, sweet, and tastes like a tropical dessert, while the Spicy Fifty is sharp, aromatic, and wakes up your palate with ginger heat.

In common: Vodka-based, Shaken, Served up, Fruit-forward

Ingredients

Both share

Vodka

Only in Spicy Fifty

Elderflower Liqueur, Lime Juice, Ginger Syrup, Red Chilli

Only in French Martini

Pineapple Juice, Chambord

The Spicy Fifty swaps out the French Martini's tropical pineapple and berry flavors for sharp lime, floral elderflower, and spicy ginger.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Vodka base, Noticeable sweetness

How French Martini differs

Tart and spicy instead of tropical, Floral instead of berry-like, Lighter body

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

Salvatore Calabrese created the Spicy Fifty in 2004 at the Library Bar at the Lanesborough Hotel in London. He designed it to be a modern, spicy vodka cocktail that would appeal to drinkers looking for something beyond the typical fruity vodka martinis of the era.

Creator: Salvatore Calabrese
Era: 2000s
Confidence

The original Salvatore Calabrese recipe is well documented, but the exact ratio of ginger syrup to lime can vary slightly depending on the bartender and the heat of the ginger syrup used.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Taste your ginger syrup before mixing; homemade syrup can vary wildly in heat.
If you don't have a fresh chili, a thin slice of fresh ginger works as a garnish.
Shake this drink a little longer than usual to make sure the syrup blends fully.
Use a neutral vodka so the ginger and elderflower aren't fighting the spirit.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't use ginger beer; it will water down the drink and change the texture.
Don't skip the straining step, or ice chips will ruin the smooth texture.