The St-Germain Spritz and a Story.
Thanks to a bottle of ST-GERMAIN® Elderflower Liqueur sent to me to review, I’ve been making cocktails again, in particular trying the recipe for a lovely light summer drink called a St-Germain Spritz. It’s a mixture of just a handful of cocktail cabinet ingredients and is super easy to make. Perfect for summer.
All you need is
- A bottle of St-Germain
- Prosecco, Sparkling wine or if you are feeling posh, Champagne
- Sparkling water
- A slice or two of lemon and some ice
I love the fragrant taste of elderflowers – if I was a better food blogger, I’d have my own store of homemade elderflower cordial but I have to confess I generally buy mine and keep it in the fridge to tart up a glass of sparkling water. But, a St-Germain Spritz sounds so much better, doesn’t it?
Although I’ve had cocktails with St-Germain in them at fashionable artisan bars around London, I’ve never had a bottle of my own before. Now I am an addict and I’ve added the classic St-Germain Spritz recipe to my own repertoire. St-Germain spritzed with champagne or prosecco makes a perfect summer drink. Light and fragrant, since St-Germain is 20% proof, the recipe for the St-Germain Spritz makes a long drink with the same kind of alcohol content as a glass of wine. But, it’s somehow a lot more sophisticated than a white wine spritz…a heady combination of champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine and citrusy, lightly floral St-Germain.
If I didn’t know better, I’d have placed ST-GERMAIN® Elderflower Liqueur in the back streets of the Sixieme, in Paris. A drink that perhaps touched the lips of Satre and de Beauvoir, that was behind the bar at Les Deux Magot and that even featured in ‘Down and Out in Paris and London’. As it happens despite being described as ‘Vie Parisienne en Bouteille’ it simply didn’t exist in the 19th and 20th Century. It’s a remarkable and delicious creation of a young third-generation distiller, Rob Cooper, who defied his father to create ST-GERMAIN® Elderflower Liqueur, the world’s first French liqueur made with fresh elderflower blossom. Inspired by his visits to London and Paris where he’d tasted elderflower cordials, Rob set about creating his own craft liqueur.
Despite the lack of family support, he succeeded in launching ST-GERMAIN®. So popular was the drink that it quickly became known as The Bartender’s Ketchup (although it’s more like a ‘salt and pepper’ ingredient, adding a subtle nuance to a cocktail). It was something that became an essential component of all edgy, fashionable bars in Europe and the USA. In a stunning art deco style glass bottle, it looked the part too. Bacardi, the World’s leading premium drinks company, acquired the brand in 2013, with the aim of launching ST-GERMAIN® Elderflower Liqueur across the world. And, the liqueur continues to grow in popularity – a legacy to Rob Cooper who died in 2016 at the age of 39.
As I’ve mentioned already, the cocktail for which St-Germain is best known is simplicity itself. Here’s the recipe for the St-Germain Spritz. I promise you once you’ve tried it, you will be hooked!
- 120 ml Champagne or prosecco
- 100 ml St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 120 ml Sparkling Water or Soda
- I Slice Lemon
- Ice
- Half fill a Collins glass with ice
- Pour over St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- Top with sparkling water and Champagne or Sparkling Wine
- Stir gently to mix
- Garnish with a slice of lemon
Now, whether or not you fancy yourself as an aspiring mixologist, I hope I’ve done enough to convince you that you NEED your own bottle of ST-GERMAIN®. The drink has won an array of awards and is noted by The New York Times as being ‘one of the most influential cocktail components introduced in the last decade’. And anyone can make a St-Germain Spritz – it’s a really easy Summer Spritz recipe
I’ve tried mine in various other forms already – I rather like it neat on the rocks in the evening. And, it makes a lovely ST-GERMAIN® Royale by using one part ST-GERMAIN® to 3 parts sparkling wine. I REALLY want to try some poured over lemon sorbet too.
And, why not pin this to your cocktail recipe board – a St-Germain Spritz is the perfect summer tipple
This is a classic – I love a St Germain Spritz
Gin cocktails x
I have never tried St Germain Spritz but I love the idea of trying it over lemon sorbet.
Making my friends think I’m posh (I’m not).
St Germain Spritz sounds good to me
I’d make a delicious Eton mess with it, cream, fruit, meringue and liquid/alcohol
I mix it with
Emonade like a spritzer
Wow sounds absolutely amazing would go great with see Ice
I’d make a variety of different cocktails with it.
Drinking, what else 🙂
I’d put it with some gin and lemon to make an awesome cocktail!
Great recipe – thank you!
I would try it neat for starters, but I love the sound of the St Germain Spritz too, so I would try that too, for sure XXX
I would use it for some sort of cocktail
I’d deffo make lots of different cocktails with it! Or just to make drab drinks taste fab!
or add it to prosecco
the spritz sounds amazing and I have a bottle of prosecco chilling in my fridge too! perfect!
Gin cocktails!
That sounds lovely. I’d love to try it in something non-alcoholic for driving guests.. Over ice, with cucumber and fresh mint topped with tonic?
I don’t have a clue never had anything like this before would be fab to try it
I would concoct my own cocktails.
I love elderflower. (And elderberries too).
I would use it for drinking! Unusually I prefer my liqueurs neat…
i would use it for cocktails
I love the idea of adding this to sparkling wine for a refreshing spritzer xx
I’d love to try it over a sorbet
I love it in gin!
I think i would use it for some cocktails for me and my friends to enjoy.
Sounds great with gin and lots of ice
With gin and lime cordial.
Great cocktail mix – love it with Gin 🙂
It sounds lovely mixed with sparkling wine.
I think neat on the rocks would be good!
Everything!
Gin cocktails or an afternoon prosecco spritz!
First thought would be to mix it with gin and cloudy apple juice.
I’d try out some new gin cocktail recipes!
I think I’d use it for cocktails
I love a Gatzby and Gin Cocktails just love to sample Mmm
Forgot my stars
I’ve not tried it before, so maybe cocktails.
I reckon it’s taste pretty nice poured over vanilla ice cream
Elderflower cocktail – St. Germain with either champagne or a dry white wine and soda
I’d experiment with cocktail ingredients and I’d sure every one of them would be totally drinkable!!!!!
I HAVE HEARD OF IT BUT NEVER TRIED IT BUT WOULD LOVE TO
It would be ideal for gin cocktails, so that’s how I’d use it
Making cocktails
Makign cocktails 🙂 Love them in the sun
make lots of different cocktails
I’d use it for cocktails
Oooh I definitely think I’d be adding a dash to a gin and tonic!
Also I used to make a lovely elderflower and lemon sorbet, so winning might tempt me to try that again….
I love the smell and taste of elderflower. What a great recipe – good for drinkers and non drinkers – a drink the whole family can enjoy – this is now on my list of drinks for summer!
To freshen up my favourite G&T x
St. Germain-flavored ice cream!
I would mix it with champagne or pour it over ice cream
St Germain Spritz – without a doubt!
Making a gin cocktail.
Vodka and elderflower lemonade
With Prosecco at a BBQ yum 😋
Your recipe sounds delicious
lots of inventive cocktails
Delicious with champagne and some strawberry liqueur 💛
Gorgeous 🖤💜💛
Would love to try a St. Germain Spritz
I would use it for cocktails
Gin cocktails
cocktails for me and my daughter !
I would definitely try out your recipe but I would also be boring and mix it with lemonade on it’s own!
bet it would be nice with gin!
I would try it with vodka and ice. Mmmm
We have lots of bottles of champagne left from our wedding, which could do with a summer makeover!
love the idea of making some new cocktails
after dinner tipple
mixed with sparkling wine.
For making new cocktails I haven’t tried before starting with the Elderflower ones
this is perfect to use in a gin cocktail
I’d love to try the St Germain Spritz actually … it sounds delicious! I’d also like to try it with a Mediterranean tonic.
In a lovely summer cocktail recipie x
Sounds gorgeous and what a classy looking bottle! I would dive in with cocktails on special occasions but would also drizzle a little over a fresh fruit salad.
I would like to try it in desserts,perhaps in a trifle.
Adding five stars for your fab recipe. Thank you.
would be good with gin
I’d use it to enhance my Raspberry Collins.
I think that would be lovely!
Ps. Fab Recipe!
Gin cocktails
I’d soak it into a cake
I like the sound of the St Germain Spritz x
Cocktails are a must for this!
Try it in some cocktails
Sounds really nice and I really need to try. Elderflower
For our wedding with Southern German food
A gin cocktail would be lovely!
To try the spritz recipe
pouring over ice cream.. yum!
I would mix it with gin x
I would definitely use it in my cocktails, love a good cocktail
I do like the idea of cocktails, especially a gin spritzer!
I would make the St Germain spritz like you then I would ‘do some googling’ for other ideas
Added to prosecco for a little elderflower kick!
I would experiment with different cocktails
I have never tried St Germain Spritz
I use it in baking it gives a gorgeous flavour to lavendar and elderflower cake!
Oh and 5 stars on the St-Germain Spritz recipe yum!
We went to a food festival yesterday, and saw something simular to this, yummy ! Gave 5 stars x
Gosh, I would love to mix some with home made lemonade
I would love this for summer cocktails!
Maybe in one of my homemade ice lollies
I’d make some fab gin cocktails with it. It sounds great!
I’d love to make ice cream with it in.
I would use it for pre dinner drinks next time I am entering
Looks scrumptious. I’d like to try it with ice.
With chocolate… because why not? 😀
Definitely for a yum, fancy gin cocktail!
Yum. This sounds delicious. I’d love to try it in a gin cocktail.
Would love to try it with gin
I would like to try it with gin and also on its own. I would love to use a little in an elder-flower and lemon sponge cake.
This will be perfect for cocktails at my 30th birthday party in a couple of months, & I love elderflower!
I would use it in a gin based cocktail after a long week at work!
I have not tried this before so would experiment with different mixers
with some prosecco
It would be great in a gin and tonic, it would be fab as a spritzer with white wine and maybe just on its own with a splash of tonic.
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’d use it to celebrate my 30th with St Germain Spritz as it sounds lovely.
Would use it in a Gin Cocktail
Vodka Cocktail
I would add it to prosecco and serve it when our friends come over x
I would use it to make elderflower cocktails.
I’d use it for. get-together with my sister
I would use it in gin cocktails.
SOunds as if it would be goog over ice cream, other than that, it’s for drinking
tastes good
I would love to add it to all my favourite cocktails for that added taste. I bet it tastes gorgeous
gin cocktails 🙂
I’d use it for gin based cocktails, maybe with lemonade!
gin cocktails – wow yes pls
Experiment with some cocktails
Elderflower liqueur sounds very nice – would sample a small amount, as it is, every so often.
Gin cocktails sound very welcoming!
I would try some cocktails
With lemonade and sliced lemons
As well as drinking….on iceceam or in a jelly
all done lovely in a fizzy drink
Ohh I think I would love to use it in a cocktail that I have made up!
Would love to try this with some prosecco
in a cocktail with a dash of gin and a splash of cherry brandy :o)
I’d mix with champagne or prosecco, and add a splash to whipping cream to give my desserts some zing!
Not sure at the moment as I’ve never tried this before!
A post dinner drink
I would try it with prosecco xx
Probably as an aperitif
Sounds yum! I would have it with soda water or diet lemonade
I’d try making cocktails with it
Elderflower must be my favourite flavour ever. I might try making an elderflower and gooseberry fool or sorbet with this or quite simply use this liqueur in any number of cocktails.
Five stars from me. It sounds really delicious.
I think this would be lovely with pressecco
to flavour jelly and ice cubes and to make a delicious trifle
I’d definitely use it to make cocktails!
For making cocktails
Prosecco cocktails
I would have it in a gin based cocktail. It sounds delicious.
My friend recommended using this with gin to make a drink that tasted like rhubarb & custard – I’d have to get the recipe from her but would love to try it.
Drinking neat with ice, or trying mixed with various soft drinks to see what works!
Some cocktails
Might have it with some ice.
I don’t know how I would like it, but I would have fun experimenting. First I would try a dash in a G&T.
I would try it in some cocktails.
I think this would be nice with raspberry. So I’d mix with Chambord and top up with Champagne for a Frencher than French cocktail!
I would use it in my gin and tonic to pep it up!
I’d like to try the St. Germain Spritz. You have opened my eyes to all the delicious possibilities!
I’d mix it with some gin.
I think I would try it in lots of different ways.
Make it long with soda water
Perhaps with a little gin!
Mix with gin over ice with watermelon
elderflower and thyme gin cocktail with a cheese board
Bet this is fabulous, would love to try
I’d make a vodka cocktail with it
Not only wouls I use it with wine wine or champagne, I could add it to home made ice cream or drizzle it on one of cakes.
A night of trying various cocktails 🙂
I would try it with Prosecco
tbh never tried before so would be a nice surprise
I’d spritz up a spritzer with it – thanks
Would be lovely with tonic water or in a cake x
Mixed with white wine sounds great, plus a little soda water!
I’d try it in a few experimental cocktails.
I’d experiment and make a cake!
A grownups version of the cordial my mum used to make. I would try it with ice and soda water – I drink very little.
Forgot to hit the stars, love the sound of this cocktail.
The recipe sounds wonderful!
it would be delicious with gin
I am sure that it would go with gin and I would have fun trying it out.
I think I’d use it in an Elderflower pannacotta
I would mix it with prosecco 🙂
I would use it in a panna cotta
I would make the St Germain Spritz cocktail
I`d use it as part of a vodka cocktail
Myself and the wife love st German, always experimenting with different cocktails
I’d use it in some sort of cocktail – there are lots of great recipes online :o)
Not sure my rating worked the first time so here I go again 😀
in my Gin and tonics
I would like to have a go at making cocktails as I have never tried this before. The St Germain Spritz sounds nice so that is what I would start with
I would enjoy a Summer Spritz and use to flavour a boozy elderflower sponge cake.
I’d add it to a victoria sponge to give it a unique taste xx
Making cocktails.
I would experiment with lots of different cocktails!
Gin cocktails! sounds fab
First I’d try it with lemonade, then I’d look for something more exotic to try it with!
i would add it to some gin as i love that
In a cocktail or if really trying to impress in my baking, possibly an elderflower buttercream on a lemon cake
Making cocktails
I’d probably try it with tonic first
Might be nice wit prosecco
yummy with some fruit cocktails
To make G&Ts extra delicious
I would love to try it with prosecco 🙂
A prosecco cocktail x
I would top mine up with prosecco and it would be great when sitting outside in the sunshine
I want to rate this recipe as five stars
i would mix it with processco x
Sounds fabulous for adding to a celebration cake that i have planned for my Daughters 22nd birthday, may even make a cocktail or two, not until i’ve finshed the cake though ‘-) x x
would be delicious on its own or made into cocktails
I would have it with prosecco
To mix with tonic water to make a lovely spritzer!
I would try with tonic but also experiment with cocktails!
Great recipe!
For a girls night in!
With my friends on a cocktail night
I would try it in different cocktails x
Its so nice with some soda water and fresh grapefruit
I’d make spritzers for a summer afternoon and gin cocktails for an evening with friends.
I would use it for coctails.
I would mix it with Apple Juice.
5 stars from me!
Posh Cocktails at Christmas !
I would mix it with prosecco to make a Hugo
Definitely some posh cocktails for Xmas how lovely
Lovely with a Gin and Tonic and a slice of cucumber
have given stars
With gin and cocktails
a posh drink for christmas with my family
The St German Spritz tried it in Genova a few years ago and loved it!
Great alternative to the Aperol one!
I would love to try with soda, lime, mint and a shot of vodka, very refreshing!
5 star recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Add a tonic water or fizzy flavoured water with some ice
A Champagne cocktail
To make an elderflower jelly to go with my homemade elderflower jam, served with heavy cream and topped with a sprinkling of elderflower berries xx
I would love to add it to prosecco for my 30th birthday celebrations!
I would make the St Germain Spritz cocktail shown above, it looks refreshingly delicious.
It would be gorgeous added to my homemade rhubarb presse
I would use it for cocktails!
Tasty gin cocktails for the last days of summer!
Cocktails or over ice cream
Hooked on the idea of a St Germaine Spritz! I think it would be amazing !
The St Germain Spritz sounds good but reckon it would go well with prosecco too
This sounds good enough just to have on it’s own with maybe an ice cube or 2
In a champagne cocktail!!
I’d add a dash to gin and tonic
An Elderflower Collins cocktail
I’d make a very posh elderflower and gooseberry fool.
As a cocktail and maybe add some to buttercream on cupcakes?
In a gin cocktail
Excellent recipe
A champagne, elderflowery cocktail, oooh yes please!
With gin and champers
make a gin cocktail with it
I would love to use it to make a gin cocktail!
i would use it for cocktails
i’d use for gin cocktails but also would maybe try using it to make cupcakes too
I’d mix it with some prosecco to make a lovely spritz type drink.
I’d mix it with some prosecco to make a lovely spritz type drink.
i would mix it with prosecco
i would make a gin cocktail with it. Sounds so delicious. Perfect to serve at my sons 21st birthday.
I think a splash would be lovely in a Tom Collins!
Many, many delightful cocktails my dear people!
I’d use it with gin or prosecco to make cocktails.
probably try vodka and lime mixed with it.
Drink it all up
I’d try a whole range of cocktails
I would try it with gin & raspberry liqueur
I would add it to white wine and ice.
liquear