Our take
St-Germain is the liqueur that turned elderflower from a hedgerow curiosity into a bar staple. Pale gold in the bottle, it tastes like honey, pear and a floral note that reminds you vaguely of lychee without being tropical. Sweet, yes, but not syrupy – there’s enough acidity to keep it in balance.
The art-deco bottle is ridiculous and we love it. A bar spoon of St-Germain is the secret in countless ‘why is this so good?’ cocktails at places you can’t get a table at.
What to mix it with
Hugo Spritz (non-negotiable), Elderflower Collins, French 77, anywhere a splash of floral sweetness lifts gin, prosecco or tequila.
Background
Launched in 2007, St-Germain is made each year from fresh elderflowers hand-picked in the French Alps. The window is short – a few weeks in May. The flowers are carried down the mountain on bicycles and macerated within hours, which the brand has leaned into as its whole identity.