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Think of it: the essence of elderflowers distilled into a liqueur, brought to you in an unusual, many-sided bottle, boxed in a shade of blue-green with gold that makes you believe that today is actually situated somewhere in the mid-1920’s (at a time when homemade deliciousness like my eggnog recipe were standard practice!). It sounds dazzling, and it tastes ever so. The St. Germain cocktail made its way into the family after my sister ordered an unexpectedly delicious cocktail with the liqueur under a beautiful awning at a rooftop bar in Chicago. This was several years ago, before St. Germain was the hot hot hot stuff it is now. Peg called the bar and asked precisely how did they make that drink? They told her, she bought a bottle, and then another, and hasnโt stopped since.
What weโve found out along the way is that you best drink the bottle up because the liqueur doesnโt stay nice on your cocktail bar, or in your pantry, for too terribly long. But thatโs easily accomplished, the drinking it up. The bottle can be put to other uses, as I saw recently at American Spoon Cafe in Petoskey, where I blessedly had the finest restaurant experience since I left San Francisco (I actually felt relieved by the whole thing and was reminded how much I miss the cooking of exceptional chefs). As if the fabulous cocktail menu, the Heath plates and the clever use of Weck jars weren’t enough to draw you in, along the exposed brick wall behind our table there was a row of St. Germain bottles that had been remolded at the top, serving as vases for a single sunflower in each.

St. Germain Cocktail
Ingredients
- 5 parts brut champagne, or prosecco
- 2 parts St. Germain
- 1 lemon twist
Instructions
- Mix the champagne and St. Germain in a coupe glass. Drop in the twist, but never lemon itself, as lemon juice and St. Germain do not get along!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Festive Drinks
Another refreshing favorite, especially in the softer, warm seasons, is a classic Aperol Spritz. Very simple to make, and bright and gorgeous to behold.
Try bracing, yet creamy, Irish Coffee with my guide for how to make this terrific treat.
Thick, luscious hot chocolate is a game-changer! Check out my Thick Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon.
Make homemade Eggnog Recipe! Itโs the best and so festive.
Gin Fizz is next level with orange blossom water. Try it with my Orange Blossom Gin Fizz recipe.
While the ideal glass for the first cocktail is a bowl-shaped champagne glass, the correct vessel for the latter is a bathtub. Just sink in with a nice, long twisty straw on a hot summer day. Garnish with pink tea-lights and a fuzzy bath mat.
Maureen. thanks for the new information, have never heard of this before. Keep on writing and cooking.
Maureen, would love to sit on the back deck with you and Peg for some wonderful conversation encouraged by this lovely cocktail
Oh My… I could get into a lot of trouble with this cocktail!!!
Sounds DELICIOUS!!!!
xoxo’s….