They call it bartender’s ketchup, but if you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, read on.
While branded elderflower liqueurs like St Germain are a fairly new invention, the flavour has been with us for centuries, mostly as a cordial across northern Europe. Elderflower has even been sipped as far back as Roman times. In other words, she old. The modern grown-up iteration was devised much later, around 2007 when the son of Chambord-glory and third-generation distiller Robert J. Cooper ventured out on his own to create St Germain (despite his famous father’s misgivings).
The name St Germain is pretty unique. Turns out old Robbie J. has a soft spot for the French creatives. The St-Germain-es-Prés area was once the artistic epicentre of Paris, housing notable famous artists and novelists such as Hemingway, Picasso, Baudelaire and others. Robert was inspired to capture that creative juju in his St Germain liqueur, even shaping the bottle to be in the art-deco style in a li’l wink and a nod to the neighbourhood’s aesthetic.
There are loads of briliant cocktails that use elderflower liqueur. First up, we have that much-loved Hugo Spritz. Delicious, refreshing and super light – it gained traction on TikTok a few years ago and shows no signs of slowing. We also have the Elderflower Martini – a floral take on the OG, this is mixed up with vodka instead of gin, and the liqueur gives this drink a very pretty twist. Ava Matthew’s Basil and Elderflower Spritz cocktail is great for serving a few peeps, especially as it is wonderfully simple. Cara Devine’s Gin Sour with Celery Bitters is a great savoury and floral way to showcase the liqueur. One of our favourite elderflower cocktails is the Courtside. Pretty in pink, sweet and fruity, this is everything you want in a drink. Then you have the Elderflower Lemon Sour, which is super easy and lower in alcohol, and the White Linen, which might just be the perfect party pour.
But if you want to keep it even easier, try mixing some elderflower liqueur through your Gin and Tonic, your vodka, lime and soda, or perhaps even add a splash to your ice-cold soda water and you’ll see just how much this versatile liqueur has to offer.
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Elderflower liqueurs to try
1. St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
You could buy this bottle solely for its striking bottle and be happy with your purchase, but St Germain is not just a pretty face. This liqueur has floral and lemon sherbet aromas, which follow through to the palate, mixed with pear and passionfruit flavours, too. It’s an excellent intro to the liqueur, and it really does look great on the shelf.
2. Chroma Lab Elderflower
If you’re looking to keep your elderflower experiments under a budget, Chroma is a great option. This elderflower-flavoured liqueur has everything you look for in this liqueur – it has refreshing floral aromas and a strong elderflower flavour, but with vanilla and a warming finish that runs right through to the finish. This will bring all the right herbal and floral notes your Hugo Spritz.
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Click image to shop
3. Marionette Elderflower Liqueur
This Melbourne-made treat is only available via Dan’s Marketplace and not in stores, so it gets shipped straight from Marionette. But don’t let that stop you because this is work a closer look. We know we said elderflowers come from the French Alps, but the clever peeps at Marionette have used Victorian flowers. Expect blossom and nectarine, honeyed apricot and crisp acidity. This is a super pretty Aussie take you need to try.
