alc./vol: 20%
Proof: 40°
Vintage: Non-vintage
Aged: Unaged
Product of: France
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St-Germain is the world's first elderflower liqueur, made with hand-picked elderflower petals macerated in grape neutral spirit within 48 hours of being picked, sweetened with 180g sugar per litre, presented in its distinctive Belle Epoque-style bottle.
The fresh elderflowers used to make St-Germain are harvested from the foothills of the French Alps, in Haute Savoie, where elder trees grow abundantly. The elder shrubs (sambucus nigra) flower for a few weeks in late spring but are only at their ripest for about a week. A group of local French farmers harvest the flowers by hand, as has long been the tradition in this region of France.
Once picked, speed is of the essence in order to capture the blossoms' fragrance and flavour as the flowers dull and fade. The fresh elderflowers are macerated in eau-de-vie made from a blend of Chardonnay and Gamay grapes. The elderflower infused spirit is then blended with 180 grams of sugar per litre.
St-Germain mixes well with all white fruits, particularly apple, pear and white grapes. The acidity of white wine also balances St-Germain and the grassy, gooseberry notes of Sauvignon Blanc work particularly well with the delicate floral notes of the liqueur.
Sampled on 06/04/2023
Clear, pale golden.
Clean, delicately fragrant with integrated fruit notes (peach, pear, grapefruit and tinned lychee).
Lightly syrupy with floral elderflower, balanced with assertive citric acidity and lemon zest. With notes of lemon meringue pie, pear, passion fruit and sweet pastry.
Long elderflower finish with gooseberry and lingering citric acidity.
Sweet floral elderflower balanced with assertive citric acidity, St-Germain mixes so well in cocktails that it has been described as "bartender's ketchup."
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