Is there anything more heartwarming than a summer afternoon with your favourite gals? I think not. In a life filled with busy schedules, running errands non stop, and always on the go with work, I made a commitment to myself to be more active this summer and organize more gatherings with my friends. It was obligatory that the first gathering would be on the first day of Summer, June 21st. The guests? My one and only sister Alexandra and my long time bestie, Meryem. All three of us have very different lives. My sister is a mama that is running around non stop with my niece from morning to night, my bestie is a teacher that is always dealing with non-stop adventures created by toddlers, while I wouldn’t even know where to begin with how many things I am dealing with daily. But when it comes to our get togethers all three of us agree that yummy cocktails are a MUST! This time around I thought I would surprise them with the best flavour I have ever come across up to now. A pleasant surprise non the less, this year’s St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur is what I would like to call luxury in a bottle. I am huge cocktail fan. Give me the sweetest cocktail of life and you will be my best friend.
I am not much of a liqueur connoisseur, but in my humble opinion this may be the highest quality of elderflower flavour I have tasted so far. As soon as we opened our St-Germain bottle we were taken aback by the aroma of the liqueur. My grandparents had tons of liqueur bottles in their living room cabinet while I was growing up, and as vividly as I remember how lovely all the liqueurs smelt, I honestly don’t think I have smelt an aromatic scent like St-Germain. A little of a fun history lesson for you which I find fascinating and surprising is that St-Germain is the first liqueur in the world created in an artisanal French manner. Each spring, for only a few months, Elder Trees in Beaucaire, South of France produce creamy-white, fragrant blossoms. The peeps over at St-Germain then hand-pick these Elderflower blossoms for distillation (only the best quality ones). I have read that in order to achieve a high quality scent and flavor the elderflowers must be processed within 72 hours after they are picked. Most elderflower liqueurs that are out there actually freeze the blossoms before distillation, but St-Germain is made with 100% fresh blossoms giving you a true natural flavor. Another cool fact about this liqueur is that each bottle of St- Germain is individually numbered, reflecting the year in which the flowers were picked. I don’t know about you, but St-Germain just took my cocktail game to the next level. A total game changer for me.
I mean, the design of the bottle alone makes you want to have a bottle of St-Germain on your cocktail cart. It is the epitome of bottle elegance which for me is very art deco. With a beautiful pale golden colour and eye catching bold font, St-Germain is my kind of bottle.
*Photo taken by moi
The other thing I loved about St-Germain is that there is an extensive portfolio of cocktail recipes on the brand’s website. Even though I do enjoy mixing cocktails and coming up with my very own recipes I thought I would give a try to the cocktail recipes on the St-Germain website. I found the ingredients suggested by St-Germain to really complement the liqueur’s subtle yet complex flavours of the elderflower, tropical fruits, and citrus.
*Recipe taken from St-Germain website with minor revisions
First up, I prepared the St-Germain Cocktail- Signature Serve. We found the Signature Serve to be so refreshing and perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot summer day. St-Germain seems to pair well with every base spirit, adding character and a je ne sais quoi to any cocktail. Even though the liqueur is sweet, St-Germain has exceedingly low sugar content relative to other liqueurs. The perfect excuse for us to eat more sweets.
As a second cocktail, I served the French Gimlet. Luscious and sweet, I like how the freshly squeezed lime adds a twist to the cocktail with its citrus notes. If you wish you may also add some blackberries. I added a couple just because I like my cocktails to have some additional textures with fruits. What I did is have the blackberries on a toothpick on the edge of the coupe glass, so that way it is up to your guest whether or not they drop the blackberries into their cocktail drink.
*Photography by Laura Clarke Photography
I would have never thought of mixing liqueur with other spirits, but this is a total game changer for my cocktail game. I am looking forward to my next summer gathering at home and you better believe first guest on my list will be a bottle of St-Germain. My mantra this summer coincides with St-Germain’s mantra; Vive L’Apéritif. To celebrate the importance of slowing down and actually taking the time to enjoy an evening with friends and family, or even enjoying a much needed solo time on the patio on a sunny afternoon. Vive L’Apéritif! Enjoy responsibly!
Even though this post is sponsored by St-Germain you know how much I love cocktails and get togethers. Opinions and thoughts are my own.
