Friday, April 22, 2011

It's Friday! IL Est Vendredi ! St-Germain Cocktails! Delicieux! How French!





We have heard of the famous Abbey of Saint Germain the oldest church in Paris dating back to the 6th century.  We have heard of the famous district of Saint Germain and Boulevard Saint Germain home to some of the chicest boutiques  in the world
and then there is the St-Germain Liqueur.






We dedicate this Friday edition to a wonderful French liqueur named St Germain.

St-Germain is made from the blossoms of the elderflower tree. It was the first liqueur created in the artisanal manner from freshly handpicked elderflower blossoms.
The elderflower is a delicate flower which quickly loses it fragrance and flavor.
 Only for a few days in late spring in the foothills of the Alps are the manufacturers able to harvest the flowers for this exceptional liqueur. The harvest time is 2 to 3 weeks and French farmers (paysans) handpick and deliver the blossoms to local depots. Some use a specially rigged bicycle to take the blossoms to a local depot. Upon arrival the story of how the one of a kind flavor of the elderflower is harvested is a family secret. The resulting liquid is then mixed with grape spirit and cane sugar. The final flavor hints of citrus, peach and pear.

St-Germain is the main ingredient in some of the more delicious cocktails in the world.  You can find it at fine liquor stores everywhere.







Please note: St-Germain is heavier than wine and will settle unless stirred completely in some cocktails.

The Signature drink is the

St-Germain Cocktail

2 parts Brut Champagne or sparkling wine
11/2 parts St-Germain
2 parts sparkling water or club soda
Fill a tall Collins Glass with ice. Add the Champagne first, then St-Germain, then Club Soda. Stir completely and garnish with a lemon twist.

St Germain and Champagne

1/2 part St Germain
Top with Champagne in a or dry sparkling wine.
Pour the ingredients into a flute and stir lightly. Float half a strawberry as a garnish.








Sangria Flora

 1 bottle Sauvignon Blanc or Dry white wine
1 cup St-Germain
2 fresh peaches
5 - 6 fresh strawberries
6 fresh raspberries
1 bunch fresh grapes

Stir all ingredients in a pitcher or carafe
Soak for about 15 minutes
Serve in an ice filled glass.

St Germain Shandy

5 parts Pilsner Beer
11/2 parts St-Germain
2 lemon wedges
Stir all the ingredients together in a pint glass filled all half way with glass.
Squueze the two wedges and submerge in the glass.







Pretty Ricky

2 parts Tequila Blanco
1 part St-Germain
1/2 part fresh squeezed lime juice
3-4 sour cherries
Top with Club Soda
Muddle the cherries in a shaker and add remaining ingredients and ice. Shake and strain into an ice filled Collins glass.
Top with soda and garnish with a sour cherry


Winter Cup

1 part St-Germain
2 parts Spiced Rum
1 part freshly squeezed lime juice
1 slice each, strawberry, lemon, lime and orange
1 pinch mint
2 dashes angostura bitters
In a shaker gently muddle fruit and mint. Add the remaining ingredients and shake lightly. Pour mixture into a rocks glass, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Rob Collins

2 parts Gin and Vodka
1 part St-Germain
3/4 part freshly squeezed lemon juice
Top with Club Soda
Shake the first three ingredients in a shaker and strain the mixture into a Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with soda. garnish with lemon or lime twist and a sour cherry.


Summer Rye

11/ 2parts Sazerac Rye Whiskey
3/4 part St-Germain
1/4 part Simple syrup
3/4 part freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 part freshly pressed apple part juice (cloudy)
3/4 part Champagne
Shake ingredients with ice, except for Champagne , and strain into a ice filled Collins glass. Top with Champagne and garnish with cubed apples.




St-Germain Chocolat Epice

11/4 Partido blanco
1/4 Saint Germain
3 parts Mexican Hot Chocolate
Garnish with St-Germain Marshmallow
Heat chocolate until hot. Add tequila and St-Germain, and stir well. Pour into espresso cups , and garnish with a homemade marshmallow.


Cuzco Fizz

5-6 green grapes
2 parts Pisco
1 part St Germain
3/4 part fresh squeezed lime juice
Top with Club Soda
Muddle grapes in the base of a shaker. Add pisco, lime juice, St-Germain and ice. Shake vigorously and strain into an ice filled Colllins glass. Top with soda.







Please remember to drink responsibly!

Have a St-Germain Weekend!

No comments :

Post a Comment

Popular Posts