st. germain elderflower
Ironically, for a liqueur destined to assist in the slowing down and savoring of the moment, St‑Germain begins with something of a race against time.
This is because there are only a few fleeting weeks in the spring when fresh wild blossoms can be gathered for St‑Germain.
The blossoms in question are elderflowers. In European folklore, the elder tree is of particular célébrité. Extracts and oils derived from the beloved plant have been employed medicinally and mystically for centuries. An herbal ange gardien, one might say.
From the Foothills to your liquor cabinet courtesy of technological marvels as hand-picking and bicycle transport.
Descending the hillside, these diligent flower-gatherers carefully usher the umbrells of starry white flowers back to the village, often by bicycle. In just a few short weeks, all of the elderflowers that will become St‑Germain for that year will be harvested. And then... Fini. That is why each bottle of St‑Germain is individually numbered to reflect the year in which the flowers were picked.
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. Neither passionfruit nor pear, grapefruit nor lemon, the sublime taste of St-Germain is a flavor as subtle and delicate as it is captivating.
Persuading the fragile elderflower to give up its prized essence requires the ingenuity and inventiveness learned from over 100 years of experience crafting the finest liqueurs.
To this we add our technique of careful, rapid and continuous maceration of the elderflowers to make the freshest and most enjoyable flavor possible.
The result is the only exquisitely fresh and natural flavor of elderflowers available in a finely crafted, perfectly balanced and refined liqueur.
The sublime taste of St-Germain hints at pear, peach and grapefruit, yet none of them exactly. It is a flavor as subtle and delicate as it is captivating.
summertime spritzer
St. Germain & Champagne topped with soda water. Served in a carafe.