St-Germain Spritz: this drink is simply a piece of Paris in a glass
Since I got to “live” in Paris for three weeks (I know, I know), my love for the St-Germain Spritz has only deepened. It is an elegant cocktail from a beautiful bottle, soft, fresh, and sweet at the same time due to the elderflower, and it is named after my favorite place in the whole world: Saint-Germain. The fun part is that I am not alone in my love for this liqueur. The St-Germain Spritz is appearing on more and more terraces and cocktail menus, and I completely understand why. Moreover: it is a classic that you can also enjoy in the autumn.
Why is the St-Germain Spritz so popular?
The spritz has been one of the most beloved cocktails for years, but the taste is shifting. Where bittersweet once reigned, more and more people are opting for the lighter, fresher, and softer variant with elderflower. In the United States and England, the St-Germain Spritz is already intensely ‘en vogue’, and here too, this summer, you often heard on the terraces: “Can I have another St-Germain Spritz?”
Can you drink a St-Germain Spritz in the autumn as well?
Absolutely, I would say right now. The taste is light and fresh, but also soft due to the elderflower, and that fits so well with a sunny autumn afternoon or an evening with friends at the table. Our Marit recently attended the St-Germain Sunset Dinner at LuminAir in Amsterdam, where each course was paired with St-Germain. A spritz with the meal worked better than you might think.
How do you make the perfect St-Germain Spritz?
The secret lies in simplicity, as you only need three ingredients. Fill a large wine glass to the brim with ice, pour in 60 ml MARTINI prosecco and 60 ml sparkling water, and finally add 40 ml St-Germain. Stir gently once, so the bubbles remain, and finish it off with a slice of lemon or a lemon zest. Your petite pièce de Paris is ready.
How do you prepare a St-Germain Spritz when you have guests?
If you arrange a few things in advance, you won't be sweating in the kitchen but will toast smoothly. Put the St-Germain, prosecco, and sparkling water in the fridge a few hours beforehand, because the colder everything is, the fresher your spritz. Cut your lemon into slices or zests in advance and store them covered in the fridge. If more people are coming, make a carafe: for six glasses, mix 360 ml MARTINI prosecco and 360 ml sparkling water and again add 240 ml St-Germain last. Then let everyone refill their glass with ice themselves. Put on a French playlist (my favorite is the one from Hotel Costes) and it can't go wrong.
Where can you drink a St-Germain Spritz in Amsterdam?
If you prefer to soak up the autumn sun outside, you can find Saint-Germains (I’m just making it a verb) in Amsterdam at Café Garçon, Margeaux, Palladium, Strandzuid, Bar Kosta, Bar Kasper, Marathonweg, Venster 33, Chez Van Rhijn, Heck’s, and TED’s. Many of those terraces are heated, so it’s Parisian vibes all over.
How is St-Germain made?
The story behind the bottle makes this drink even more special. St-Germain was launched in 2007 by American distiller Robert Cooper, who came up with the idea after tasting a drink with elderflower syrup in a London bar. The name is an ode to Paris and thus to my favorite neighborhood, Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The elderflower itself comes from the French Alps, where it is hand-picked (by hand!) in a short period of three to four weeks, often early in the morning when the coolness protects the delicate leaves. The pickers often bring the flowers by bike (oh, I find it all so romantic) to collection points so they don't get damaged. After that, it has to go quickly, because within 48 hours of picking, the flowers are soaked in an eau-de-vie made from Chardonnay and Gamay grapes. Up to 1,000 elderflowers go into each bottle, and the golden color comes solely from the pollen, without artificial colorings.
Fun background info to casually flash when you pour a second glass for your guests. Santé!
