St~Germain, a new liqeuer artisanale, is advertising themselves as just that—the life of Paris in a bottle.  And until I saw more that adverts, I figured it was just another trendy drink that will come and go.  However, I think I was mistaken…

Last Thursday, I happened upon a bottle at the bar of my restaurant and figured I should give it a little taste.  Wow.  I absolutely loved it!  The liqeuer is made from elderflowers that are hand-picked from the foothills of the Alps.  It is then ushered through a maceration process that must occur within a few days of picking or else the flowers will lose most of their flavor.  Lastly, it is distilled with a grape spirit that is flavored with a bit of citrus and cane sugar.  The result: a lovely liqeuer that has a distinct aroma and flavor or elderflower (which, by the way, is very similar to the flavor of lychee).

I suggest you try it on the rocks with a splash of soda water and a lemon twist.  Or, if you feel like being especially Parisienne, top off about an ounce of St~Germain with a decent (but not too pricey) champagne and enjoy!  Either variation makes a fantastic alternative to a mimosa at brunch, or a sweet drink to end a meal in lieu of dessert.

Filed Under: Wine & Libations