The Intoxicologist

There is one reason above and beyond any other rationale that St-Germain Liqueur makes the supreme show stopping sexiest liquid gift for Valentine’s Day this year; it has the sleekest, sexiest bottle ever to hit liquor store shelves.  The St-Germain bottle begs one to gently grace a finger along its silky smooth lines and curvaceous edges.   This beautiful elixir stands tall and graceful tempting the senses, teasing the palates of so many since its introduction to the U.S. market.  

The St-Germain Cocktail

2 parts Sparkling Wine, Sauvignon Blanc or Dry White Wine

1-1/2 parts St-Germain

2 parts Club Soda

Fill a tall Collins glass with ice. Add Champagne first, then St-Germain, then Club Soda. Stir completely.* Garnish with a lemon twist, making sure to squeeze essential oils into glass.  *St-Germain is heavier than wine, thus it will settle to the bottom unless mixed thoroughly.

St-Germain is an artisanal French liqueur created only once per year in late spring.  It is said to be 100% all natural with no preservatives.  It is created from elderflower blossoms in limited quantities.  Officially St-Germain tastes like tropical fruit, citrus and orchard fruits.  The flavor is soft and lilting on the tongue making it perfect for light sipping or adding that finishing touch to delicate cocktails.

La Rosette

1/2 part St-Germain

Top with Champagne, Brut Rosé or Dry Sparkling Wine

Pour ingredients into a chilled fluted glass and stir lightly. Float half a strawberry, a few raspberries or garnish with a lemon twist. Drink a toast to the elegance of simplicity and the divinity of fraises fraîches.  The addition of Brut Rosé makes this usually named St-Germain & Champagne cocktail the La Rosette due to its beautifully blush color.

My first taste of St-Germain: “I can’t describe what the liqueur even tastes like. It is light, yet abundant, but not overpowering. It is floral, but not flowery and strong like roses. It has a hint of fruit in it, yet there is not a particular fruit to distinguish in the flavor. - It is a complicated liqueur, yet brings a dynamic to a drink that is unmatched. It is a layering effect that happens when a drink is put together with forethought. When you drink a cocktail such as this, you take a sip and think to yourself that it tastes really good. Then you take another sip and realize there is another element in the drink you hadn’t caught the first taste around. That adds new depth and character to it and you want to taste more to see if you catch something else. That is exactly what the St~Germain does for a drink if it is added in the right proportion.” - St-Germain Limon Blossom

Dia Del Amor

1 part St-Germain

1-1/2 parts Reposado Tequila

3/4 part fresh lime

2 dashes hot sauce

Shake and strain into chili salt rimmed rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

More cocktails using St-Germain: Maharani Cocktail with Rangpur Gin, G’vine Orchid & G’Fizz from The G’Infusions, my version of the Christi Cosmo with Christiania Vodka and the Christi Kyss created by another mixologist, Quartier Latin with Blanche Armagnac Laubade, Leblon Cachaca’s own Spirit of Brasil created by Charles Joly, NUVO-Dream layers St-Germain with NUVO Sparkling Liqueur, the Widow’s Touch cocktail uses Laird’s Applejack and Bendictine to create a couples cocktail, saké2me Asian Pear gives an Asian influence to Hennessy & St-Germain with the Le Coloniale, feel a bit of summer sun shine with Bombay Sapphire Gin and B&B Liqueur as they combine to create a Botanical Breeze, Dos Lunas offers the Silver Lining… There are many, many more of course!

Cherub’s Cup

1 part St-Germain

2 parts Vodka, Citrus Vodka, or Hendricks

1/4 part Fresh Lemon

1/4 part Simple Syrup

Muddled Strawberry

Top with Brut Rosé

Shake and strain over fresh rocks in a collins glass. Top with Brut Rosé or Brut Champagne. Garnish with a strawberry.

The Bulldog Rouge at Forge – Sweeney Todd

The ‘Oh Pear’ – The Christiania Artini

Need a little inspiration for taming your 1st date flutters?  Plymouth Gin offers the perfect Butterflies Cocktail with link to conversation starter topics to keep you out of the hot seat.  Enjoy more Valentine’s Day recipes by finding Burning Love in the Red Light District with Mekhong inspired cocktails.  The Hennessy Blackberry cocktail inspired more than thoughts of cocktails where long distance relationships are concerned this Valentine’s Day.  Barefoot Bubbly offers a Kiss from a Rose champagne topped cocktail with raspberry and blackberry with the perfect hint of blush for any romantic encounter, date night or Girl’s Night Out on the town.  175 more cocktail recipes and shots have been chosen to highlight the Fun & Flirty side of life.  Enjoy!

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www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

str8upcocktails@gmail.com

Tales of the Cocktail Announces the 2009 Spirited Dinner Series

Presented By Imbibe Magazine and St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur

“The Spirited Dinners provide an excellent opportunity to not only explore the finest cuisine that New Orleans has to offer, but also to discover firsthand the exciting potential of pairing cocktails with food.”

-Robert Hess, host of “The Cocktail Spirit” on SmallScreenNetwork.com

June 7, 2009–Tickets are now on sale for Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Dinners. Buy your tickets now for a night of dinner pairings presented at 25 New Orleans restaurants. The Spirited Dinners will take place Thursday, July 9, 2009 during the 7th annual cocktail and culinary festival, Tales of the Cocktail. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to dine in style at New Orleans’ finest for an experience that takes pairing to the next level.

Each Spirited Dinner will have a distinctive menu with a range of cuisine from appetizers to desserts, served along with extraordinary cocktails of all variations and flavors. At each spirited dinner, a team of authors, mixologists, and bar-chefs have worked alongside New Orleans’ most prestigious restaurants to bring you a unique and exciting menu. Spirited Dinner guests will learn mixing and pairing techniques straight from the menu designers. To further enrich your experience, these creators will be on-hand for advice on anything food or cocktail.

In order to ensure an intimate dining experience, space has been limited and reservations are required. Spirited Dinners combine quality service, remarkable menus, and an unforgettable encounter in the heart of New Orleans. At $85 - $100 per person, Spirited Dinners will include a fabulous four to six course meal, tax, tip, and a paired cocktail with each course.

For a list of Spirited Dinner menus, please visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com. The list of participating restaurants and contact information is provided below. To make reservations, call your favorite New Orleans restaurant today.

Reserving your seat at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Dinners Series will not only support the restaurant industry, but will also raise the spirits of New Orleans. Make your toast to our great city on Thursday, July 9, 2009.

About Tales of the Cocktail

Tales of the Cocktail is an internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture held annually in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event brings together the best and brightest of the cocktail community

About the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society

The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society is a non-profit organization committed to preserving the unique culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans and the storied bars and restaurants that have contributed to the city1s world-wide culinary acclaim. This organization supports members of the hospitality industry through education and the production of events like Tales of the Cocktail and, most recently, Trails of the Cocktail, a scholarship program for emerging talent in the New Orleans cocktail industry.

Every summer spirits from around the world descend on America’s most soulful city. This summer will be no different as Tales of the Cocktail returns. Join us for a spirited schedule of cocktails, cuisine, and culture that will stir even the most idle of souls.

For more information on Tales of the Cocktail, visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com and register to receive email updates, ticket-sales announcements and to view the exciting line-up of events and celebrity presenters for 2009. TICKETS ON SALE NOW.

The Mekhong is extremely interesting as it intertwines charmingly with the unique gracefulness of St-Germain.  Delicate creatures can be temperamental from time to time and refuse to collaborate with other spirits in a meaningful way.  St-Germain is one such capricious spirit which can either fade away or overwhelm depending on the cocktail mood.  Nevertheless the elderflower works beautifully with the herbal spice of the Mekhong, especially bringing out the piquant cinnamon tones.  The flavor is deep and rich. 

Improvisation – created by The Intoxicologist

2 ounces Mekhong

1 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

3/4 ounce St-Germain

1/4 ounce Bar Syrup

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.  Shake for 15 to 20 seconds.  Strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with a lemon twist if desired. 

Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved