St-Germain (liqueur)
{{Short description|Elderflower liqueur}}
{{use dmy dates |date=August 2022}}
File:Bottle of St. Germain Elderflower liqueur.jpg
St-Germain is an elderflower liqueur.{{cite web|url=http://cocktails.about.com/od/liqueurscordials/p/stgermain_liqr.htm|title=What Drinks Should You Use St Germain Liqueur In?|publisher=|accessdate=1 June 2017|archive-date=28 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128015250/http://cocktails.about.com/od/liqueurscordials/p/stgermain_liqr.htm|url-status=dead}} It is made using the petals of Sambucus nigra from the Savoie region in France, and each bottle is numbered with the year the petals were collected. Petals are collected annually in the spring over a period of three to four weeks, and are often transported by bicycle to collection points to avoid damaging the petals and thus affecting the flavour.{{Cite web|date=2012-06-13|title=St. Germain Liqueur: What It Is, And What To Do With It|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/st-germain-liqueur_n_1590006|access-date=2021-12-25|website=HuffPost|language=en}}
History
St-Germain was created by distiller Robert Cooper, son of the owner of Charles Jacquin et Cie, Norton Cooper, after trying an elderflower-based cocktail at a London bar in 2001.{{Cite web|date=2017-09-10|title=The Story Behind St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/the-story-behind-st-germaine-elderflower-liqueur-1514375.html|access-date=2021-12-25|website=News18|language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Simonson |first1=Robert |author1-link=Robert Simonson |title=Robert J. Cooper, 39, Creator of Popular Elderflower Liqueur, Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/28/business/robert-j-cooper-39-creator-of-st-germain-elderflower-liqueur-dies.html |access-date=December 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=April 27, 2016}} The brand was named after the Paris neighbourhood, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and the bottle shape is influenced by Art Deco motifs associated with the early 20th century Belle Époque history of this area.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-26|title=Liqueur Saint-Germain (St-Germain): concept, how to drink, cocktails|url=https://alcogol-tradition.info/liqueur-saint-germain-st-germain-concept-how-to-drink-cocktails/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Alcohol and Tradition|language=en-US}} St-Germain was launched in 2007 by Cooper Spirits Co,{{Cite web|url = https://www.linkedin.com/company/cooper-spirits-international-st-germain|title = The Cooper Spirits Company - Linked In profile|date = |accessdate = 2014-12-12|website = |publisher = |last = |first = }} a company founded in 2006 and headquartered in New York.{{Cite web|url = http://www.cooperspirits.com/|title = The Cooper Spirits Co. |date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }} In 2013, the company was sold to Bacardi, and Robert Cooper agreed to work with Bacardi as a "brand guardian" and spokesperson.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=January 8, 2013|title=St-Germain Elderflower Liquor Acquired By Bacardi, Plans To Go Global|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/st-germain-bacardi_n_2432472.html|website=www.huffingtonpost.com|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=2014-12-12}} In 2016, Robert Cooper died at the age of 39.
St-Germain introduced a two part online video series, 'Salon St-Germain', based on the historic French salon, in 2020.{{Cite web|last=spiritedzine|date=2020-12-16|title=St-Germain Launches Holidays Series, Salon St-Germain|url=https://spiritedzine.com/st-germain-launches-holidays-series-salon-st-germain/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=SpiritedZine|language=en-US}} A second iteration, Fleuriste St-Germain, opened in New York City in August 2021, in collaboration with ballet dancer James Whiteside and director Laura Kim.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-09|title=St-Germain Is Ushering in New York City's Creative Renaissance|url=https://www.worth.com/fleuriste-st-germain-ushering-in-new-york-city-creative-renaissance/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Worth|language=en-US}}
Press and awards
The spirit won a Grand Gold Medal at the Monde Selection in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 and the "Chairman's Award" in the Liqueur category at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2010.[http://www.ultimate-beverage.com/the-results/2010-spirits-results/ 2010 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results], Retrieved March 11, 2014.{{cite news|last=Simonson|first=Robert|date=December 29, 2009|title=A Decade of Invention, and Reinvention|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/dining/30cocktail.html|authorlink1=Robert Simonson|accessdate=March 11, 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.stgermainliqueur.com/ Official website]
{{Alcoholic beverages}}
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