Product Review: St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur

I was a little hesitant to purchase this rather curious product of France. It runs for $46 before tax at a Saskatchewan liquor store, and this was well into the "is it worth the risk?" zone. Especially considering I had absolutely no idea what it would taste like. All I knew was that St Germain is an elderflower liqueur. I have never smelled an elderflower, let alone seen one, and so it was going to be a bit of a gamble. But given the frequency with which St Germain is called upon in Difford's Guide, I felt the potential reward outweighed the risk.

And it did. St Germain is an acquisition without any regrets. The liqueur  has a most pleasing aroma, and I suspect will add this quality to drinks in which it is mixed. The aroma is similar to the linden tree in bloom, although more delicate. It reminded me at once of a Summer Mist brand wine kit of Passion Fruit Papaya wine that my father made last year.

The taste is simply exceptional. As with the aroma, the taste instantly calls to mind passionfruit and papaya, however also pear, peach, grapefruit, and starfruit (if you can believe all that - you will once you try it). One really can't put a finger on which of those flavours it is, and so St Germain is truly something unique in its own right. This of course makes the liqueur ideal for imparting a subtle intriguing influence on a drink. At 20% alc. by vol. it has a reasonable balance of sweetness, though in my opinion could be a bit dryer. The flavour is quite delicate, though without being obscure (the latter being something akin to kirsch, for which I argue is completely lacking of cherry flavour). The taste lingers long after consumption, but in a pleasant way (unlike how Jack Daniels is on the breath the following morning - long story there and not one of my finer moments).

St Germain is created from fresh elderflower blossoms and presumably some other botanicals. The flowers are harvested during the few weeks in which they bloom. It contains no preservatives or stabilizers. It is a very pale gold in colour, much like any white wine. St Germain also comes in one of the most attractive bottles conceivable, sure to add some Belle Epoch French class to any liquor cabinet (and I am a sucker for interesting bottles. Curse you Crystal Skull Vodka and your irresistible design!).

As its makers claim, the liqueur is subtle, delicate, and captivating. For more information on this surprisingly good liqueur, visit the St-Germain Website. Cocktails with St Germain in the coordinates may be expected soon on The Log.

Aroma    *****
Taste       *****
Colour    *****
Cost        $$$$