🥃 St-Germain

St-Germain is a French elderflower liqueur that Difford's Guide calls the first of its kind. It was created by American Robert Cooper and released in 2007; since 2013 the brand has belonged to Bacardi. The flowers are picked in spring in Savoy, in the foothills of the Alps, and the liqueur is 20% ABV.

History. The story goes that the idea came in the early 2000s, when Cooper tasted a cocktail with elderflower syrup in a London bar. He came from a family of liqueur makers and in 2006 founded his own company, Cooper Spirits. Bartenders liked the new product so much that they nicknamed it "bartender's ketchup". Bacardi bought the brand in 2013 (some sources say 2012), and Cooper died in 2016 at the age of 39.

How it is made. According to Difford's Guide, elderflower bushes bloom for a few weeks at the end of spring, and the flowers are at their best for about a week. Local farmers pick them by hand and pass them on for maceration within 48 hours, because the aroma fades quickly. The flowers are steeped in grape spirit; the producer does not disclose the exact method. A litre contains about 180 g of sugar.

Taste and pairing. The aroma is described as floral, with notes of citrus and pear. The liqueur is often added to cocktails with sparkling wine, gin or soda, and it pairs well with white fruit.

Why it matters to you. St-Germain is a liqueur, not a syrup: under EU rules a liqueur must contain at least 15% ABV and 100 g of sugar per litre. Light and heat can change its colour and aroma, so keep the bottle cool and dark. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.