Ever since I discovered St-Germain back in college, it’s been a favorite of mine. Even when I didn’t have a bar cart, my ‘bar’ was stocked with it. When I started running low, I’d pick up another just in case I hit empty. Sure, I may have been a little fancy for my own good (and bank account) in college, but I sure am glad I found it because now I’ve got a few fun St-Germain recipes to share with you!
When I began sharing my cocktail recipes, I was starting at zero. I had no training, I never worked as a bartender, so on and so forth. Now, I’m making a conscious effort to really educate myself in the world of libations. Each month, I’ll be sharing a post with a behind-the-scenes look, features on my favorite bar cart must-haves, and more. I softly launched this ‘series within a series’ a few months ago, but I wanted to keep you all in the loop so you know what’s going on over here. If you want to take a look back, here’s the first post – a collection of my blogger photo secrets and happy hour outtakes.
This week it’s all about St-Germain. While I’m sharing with you, I’m also spending some time educating myself. This favorite cocktail ingredient of mine comes right from France. It’s made of handpicked elderflower blossoms, meaning it has a light, floral taste. You’ll see that it’s fantastic in simple drinks – like a sweet Elderflower Champagne Cocktail. Because there are only a few weeks each year when elderflower blossoms can be plucked from nature, they’re handpicked and transported by bicycle. I mean seriously, how darn awesome is that? As St-Germain’s site explains:
“St‑Germain is made in a slow, charmingly inefficient way, utilizing age-old French techniques. Hence, as a liqueur it is at once complex, pleasing and exceedingly rare.”
Many methods for utilizing or preserving elderflower blossoms changes their taste – like adding bitterness, losing the complexity of the flavor, and more. With such limited time to make enough St-Germain for a year, each bottle is numbered in order to reflect the year in which its flavorful blossoms were picked. It really is the most charming liqueur, right?
photo courtesy of Waiting on Martha
St-Germain Recipes I love
- Sparkling Elderflower Cocktail: I’ve been making this one for years. It was my go-to for unexpected entertaining – you know, those nights you plan on staying in, and before you know it you’re playing hostess.
- Pretty in Pink Grapefruit, Elderflower & Rosemary Cocktail by Waiting on Martha: I haven’t given this one a go yet, but oh man does it sound delicious. Anything with rosemary and grapefruit has my name plastered on it.
- Herbal St-Germain Margarita: A pretty pink cocktail perfect for a warm summer evening. And let’s face it, I’m always happy with a marg in hand.
- Fleur Collins Cocktail by Hungry Girl Por Vida: Cindy’s recipes always look divine and this one is no exception.
And if you’re looking for even more St-Germain recipes, its website is a wealth of tasty sips. In fact, I think their Pastinaca is going to be making an appearance here real soon. Do you have any hesitations about stirring up cocktails at home? Do share! Perhaps that will be my focus of my next behind-the-scenes post.
Happy weekend!
g.
