Drink of the Week: St. Germain 75

Happy [official] start of Summer to all. I hope your Solstice celebrations were festive and delicious.

We kick off our evening of revelry with a modern take on a traditional cocktail, the French 75. The St. Germain 75 is a wonderful use of St. Germain liqueur. St Germain is a new elderflower liqueur that has just been introduced to the United States (and everywhere else too). Distilled from/with elderflowers, it tastes like a distillation of pear, lychee, kiwi and melon. But, it's not too sweet or cloying and the bottle (see right) is a fabulous addition to your liquor cabinet. (Elderflowers, for you gardeners out there are the flowers of Sambucus nigra, a shrub you probably have in your backyard right now.)

The St. Germain 75, like its older sister the French 75, is a light summer refresher: the St Germain brings a perfumy floral note to the drink and the cava keep it bubbly and fresh-tasting. It does pack a gentle
wallop because of the gin (or vodka if you wish) and may sneak up on you on little cat feet.

St. Germain 75
Stir together over ice:

• 2 ounces gin (or vodka)
• 2 ounces St. Germain
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

Strain into glass (either up or over ice - your choice), top with 2-3 ounces of sparkling wine*.

*I find the Freixenet mini bottles of Spanish cava are good for this kind of drink. If you're only making one or two, you don't have to open an entire bottle of bubbly.