Cordially Yours :: Celebrating St. Germain's Elderflower Liqueur

I remember my first St. Germain. It was splashed into my glass of champagne. It was fresh and flowery and delightful. I assumed that this aromatic floral liqueur had been on the market for centuries. All good things from France are. I've had other "imitations" and they're syrupy sweet and can't even compare. I was quite shocked to learn that the idea behind St. Germain, the beautiful name and packaging, doesn't hail from France, but from here in the US. It was the creation of Robert J. Cooper, heir of of the Charles Jacquin et Cie throne, an old cordials and liqueur house based in Philadelphia. After a visit to the UK where he first experienced this most unique flavor, he set out to create his own. St. Germain was founded in 2007, and is manufactured in Dijon, France. It has since taken the US and the world by storm. Robert J. Cooper passed away on Monday at the age of 39. For more on Robert J. Cooper read the piece most recently published in The New York Times.

The weekend is right around the corner and spring is in the air. Do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle of this wonderful liqueur! 

St. Germain Cocktails. Via The Entertaining House. The Frenchie Cocktail from A LIFE WELL LIVED.

St. Germain Cocktails. Via The Entertaining House. St. Germain Margarita via FREUTCAKE

St. Germain Cocktails. Via The Entertaining House. French Pear Martini via FREUTCAKE

St. Germain Cocktails. Via The Entertaining House. La Rosette via BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

St. Germain Cocktails. Via The Entertaining House. The French Tart via NERDS WITH KNIVES.

St. Germain Cocktails. Via The Entertaining House. St. Germain and Veuve... have you seen a more perfect pairing? Via BOULDER LOCAVORE

St. Germain Cocktails via The Entertaining House. Elderberry Smash via BAKES BREE.

The St. Germain Cocktail via The Entertaining House. The French 75 via BUGGY DESIGNS

St. Germain Cocktails via The Entertaining House. Cucumber French Gimlet via OH SO BEAUTIFUL PAPER

Cheers! 

National Margarita Day :: 10 Mouth Watering Margarita Recipes

Don't cry because it's Monday. Smile because it's National Margarita Day! 

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. Spicy Cucumber Margarita

Yes indeed today, Monday February 22nd is National Margarita Day! The true history of the cocktail is unknown and there are several reputed accounts. No one can quite agree of the origins of the margarita, making its history a mysterious one. One version states that The Original Margarita was created by socialite, Margarita Sames, as she her favorite spirits Tequila & Cointreau for her guests to enjoy as she entertained them in her home. Another, and perhaps the earliest report, dates back to the 1930s when Iowa newspaper editor James Graham discovered a cocktail in Tijuana, Mexico which closely resembled the American drink, the Daisy. The Daisy was made with brandy as opposed to tequila.  A third version recounts a slow day in Orozco’s bar, Hussong’s Cantina, in Ensenada, Mexico. When the daughter of a German ambassador walked in Orozco was experimenting with new drink mixtures and he decided to serve her his most recent concoction. Her name was Margarita Henkel. And then there's the story of bartender “Danny” Herrera who created the drink in the Rancho La Gloria Hotel in Mexico for a Ziegfeld dancer. 

Today Tequila is as popular as ever with many varietals and artisanal versions on the market, each with a uniquely different quality. Today's tequila is often a very sophisticated cocktail.

Below you'll find a compilation of some of our favorite varieties from some of our favorite food bloggers. Sweet, salty or spicy, there's a tequila that will perfectly please your palate! 

One of my favorite places to stop by for a recipe, Gimme Some Oven, never fails to disappoint. Here's she offers up a version that delivers kick which seems to be garnering more and more attention. The cool cuke offers up the perfect the perfect antidote to the spicy jalapeno. A little bit sweet, a little bit salty, a little bit spicy, this version of the margarita has it all. (Top image)

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. Champagne Margarita

For those preferring more bubble and a little less heat, hop on over to 40 Aprons, for this delicious and effervescent twist on an old favorite. And by all means, break out those champagne flutes or coupes if you wish! 

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. 

Maybe you prefer you prefer to "put de lime in de coconut"  and so if that's the case you'll want to hop on over to Foodie Crush to  check out her version of The Best Coconut Margarita Recipe. 

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. 

A fresh twist on an old classic with one of my most absolute favorite fruits, the blood orange. Known for it's rich, deep, blood-like color, this tart orange is as refreshing as it is beautiful. Add it to your margarita with a touch of triple sec for a fabulous cocktail. Full recipe at With Salt and Wit.

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. 

And then there's always the classic. Some people believe that one shouldn't meddle with a good thing, Averie Cooks offers up a 3 ingredient version. 

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. 

So you've decided to whip up a batch of Margaritas but you've run out of limes and you really don't want to head back out to the store... Or you've got a serious craving for the puckery, sourness of a Lemon Drop. You'll find both here, at The Taylor House.

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. 

In the mood to shake things up a bit? A spicy grapefruit margarita might be a good way to try. Half Baked Harvest gives us recipes for making individual servings and big batches. She also tells us how to control spice levels for those who want just a kick to those who want a whole lotta heat! 

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. 

Or maybe you love grapefruit but not the heat. Here's a recipe that replaces heat with fizz! Well Plated adds just a bit of seltzer to add enough fizz but not so much as to dilute the flavors. 

10 Mouthwatering Margarita Recipes. 

We tend to associate pomegranate with the Christmas holidays because, in part, of their bright red color. Their season typically runs from October through the end of February, so we're in luck, and can make the best of this fruit before their season ends. Their tartness lends itself perfectly for this cocktail! How Sweet it Is shares her recipe.

Are you a purist or do you prefer to mix things up a little?

Stir up some fun this fall with these 10 festive cocktails

Why should the kids have all the fun this season? Why not gather some friends around for a little fun of your own? I've thrown and attended some great fall and Halloween parties. While not particularly a fan of the gore and all things creepy, I do love a fun and creative Halloween party. You needn't go over the top... perhaps a small group will do... Serve some some easy to make and eat finger foods ad let the cocktails be the star of the show. Offer a few, or just offer one and build the evening around that one particular drink.  Halloween not really your thing? You can trade in the Poison Apple for a Pumpkin Punch, Apple Cider and Bourbon or Black Sangria that will carry you right through the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Recipe and image via

Image and recipe via

Recipe and Image via

Images and recipe via

Images and Recipe via

Recipe and Image via

Recipe and Images via

Images and recipe via

Recipe and image via

And so, what'll it be? What's your poison?

Chin-Chin! National Negroni Week

I can't imagine a better way to begin my Birthday week - and the fact that Negroni Week begins on my Birthday is even better! Negroni is certainly an acquired taste. Made with equal parts of Campari, gin and sweet vermouth, this drink has a strong and bitter taste - some have stated that it should be stored in a medicine cabinet!

Liquor.com states that the Negroni is one of the few cocktails with a traceable history that goes all the way back to the begining of 20th century. "Its origins are documented in the book Sulle Tracce del Conte: La Vera Storia del Cocktail Negroni, which was written by Lucca Picchi, head bartender at Caffe Rivoire in Florence, Italy. The drink was created at Bar Casoni in Florence, according to Picchi, when Count Camillo Negroni ordered an Americano—sweet vermouth, Campari and club soda—with gin swapped in for the standard soda."

The Negroni is once again in favor with mixologists, .joining both the Dry Martini and the Manhattan to form the Triple Crown of classic cocktails. Many attribute this newfound popularity to the fact that the beverage is incredibly well-balanced and that it's almost impossible to make badly. 

“Campari has associations. Summer-weight suits with narrow lapels, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, Vespas, brown-eyed blondes in Capri pants. La dolce vita. A violently red, bittered-up 48-proof vermouth doesn’t sound like much to build a cocktail culture on, but somehow it works. In fact, the Negroni is one of the world’s indispensable cocktails.” Esquire”

This year, from June 1-7, bars around the world will mix their favorite version of the Negroni, donating a portion of proceeds from each one sold to a charity of their choice. In Fairfield County some of your favorite restaurants and bars have joined in on the the fun and will be pouring these sweet and aromatic cocktails with proceeds going to Community Plates, Fairfield County’s local food rescue organization. (If you live elsewhere check your town's restaurant to see where you can participate.)

Negroni Week, presented by Imbibe Magazine and Campari launched in 2013 as a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails and an effort to raise money for charitable causes around the world. From 2013 to 2014, Negroni Week grew from more than 100 participating bars to more than 1,300 participating bars around the world and more than $120,000 raised for charities.

Negroni Week, presented by Imbibe Magazine and Campari 

The local Restaurants that are Shaking, Stirring and Pouring:

Amore Cucina & Bar, Stamford
Brick+ Wood, Fairfield
NEAT, Westport
Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar & Restaurant, Westport
Rizzuto’s Sports Bar, Stamford
Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Pizza Kitchen, Bethel
Table 104 Osteria & Bar, Stamford
Vespa, Westport.

You can follow all of the Negroni Week action on Imbibe’s Instagram and Twitter feeds (@imbibe) and by following the #NegroniWeek hashtag. For more information and updates on participating Connecticut restaurants, check out: www.negroniweek.com

For those of you wanting to try at home... 

How to Make a Negroni 

1 1/2 ounces gin -- London dry gin
3/4 ounce Campari
3/4 ounce vermouth -- Italian vermouth
cocktail glass

Shake well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of orange peel.

7 Simple Champagne Cocktails to help you Ring in the New Year in Style

Are you ready?
Is your champagne chilled?
Are your glasses out? Rinsed? Dried? Ready to use?
I love a good glass of bubbly and I often pour myself a glass for no reason at all... Life is reason enough to celebrate, right?

But New Year's Eve is really worth celebrating... As we bid farewell to the old, we openly embrace the new and welcome all the good that will come our way. Whether you like champagne on its own or doctored up a bit, there's a way for everyone to enjoy it as we anxiously await the arrival of a New Year.

Champagne is indeed a festive and joyous beverage. The mention of the word alone brings a smile to my face. In fact, it is said that when Dom Perignon first had a taste of his own fantastic beverage, he announced to all "Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!”

There are many kinds of effervescent beverages out there and not all will break the bank. If you plan on drinking it straight up opt for a better bottle, Veuve Cliquot happens to be my favorite and is at a moderate price point. Perrier Jouet, Moet, Dom Perignon, Pol Roger are some other popular choices. There are many other wonderful boutique champagnes out there as well. Talk with your local sommelier for some suggestions.

If you plan on making or serving Champagne cocktails this New Year's you may prefer a Spanish Cava or an Italian Prosecco. Of course, which tend to be a good bit less expensive. These too are wonderful on their own, but I prefer to mix with these and save the good Champagne for drinking on its own. For those of you who find Champagne too bubbly, Prosecco is slightly less so. Rustico is my favorite Prosecco label. 

A purist myself, there are times I really do enjoy a lovely Champagne cocktail. 
Some lovely ideas, you'll find below. (Above image from The Glitter Guide.)

The French 75 is a simple yet cocktail made from gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar.

The drink was first created by Harry MacElhone in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris, which later became known as Harry's New York Bar.  Some claim it was first made at The Savoy in New York City. Everyone seems to agree that it was created during WW1. It is said that the combination  had such a kick that one felt like they were being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun. This cocktail is often referred to as a 75 Cocktail, or Soixante Quinze in French. This festive beverage was popularized in America at the Stork Club in New York. Hop on over to The Creative Culinary for the recipe. (Image via Creative Culinary)

The Kir Royale is such a simple and pretty Champagne Cocktail. In my late 20s and early 30s I served these all the time after being introduced to them by a close friend. It is said that Kir became popular in French cafes in the middle of the 19th century and was further popularized by Felix Kir after World War II. The then mayor of Dijon in Burgundy, France, served the drink often to promote his region's fine products (wine and creme de cassis). The name Kir has been associated with the drink ever since. Kir is a creme de cassis, but the modern twist is to use Chambord, a raspberry liqueur, which gives the drink a slightly deeper color. The great thing about this drink is that it can be created to taste. For those wanting a sweeter cocktail, more Chambord is added to the glass and for those wanting a dryer beverage, one needs to add just a drop for a beautiful color.

Chambord is another liqueur that comes to us from France, from the Province of the same name, at a real French château. The liqueur is made in three very simple steps. Fresh blackberries and raspberries are selected, the juices are squeezed and soaked in French spirits for four weeks at that point more spirits are then added and after two weeks the infusion is ready, the fruit is pressed allowing the natural juices and sugars to be released and what results in a delicious, sweet and fragrant liqueur. From there the syrup is blended with with black raspberries and blackcurrants. Next French cognac, sweet Madagascan vanilla and fragrant herbs are added.  From there the ingredients are all blended together using a tradition that dates over 300 years. For more on Chambord, visit their website. 

This recipe belongs to Martha Stewart. The image is hers as well. 

The liqueur is made from elderflower, a small, white starry flower that blooms through the spring and summer. While it is by no means rare, the flowers "are maddeningly ephemeral once picked and quickly lose their delicate fragrance and flavor."

Saint Germain liqueur seems to bottles their liqueur in an artisanal manner. The flowers are gathered from the hillsides in the French Alps during a short four- to-six-week period in spring. These picked flowers are then bicycled over to a collection depot where they are macerated immediately to retain the fresh flavors of the bloom.  Each bottle is individually numbered, reflecting the year in which the flowers were picked. For more information and the company's history, please do visit their website. 

The image above and the recipe hail from Honest Fare. 

Tangerine sorbet and bubbly make the perfect combination. Feel free to substitute lemon or raspberry sorbets. Place a scoop into a glass - wine glasses are preferable here - and add bubbles. Can it possibly get any easier?  Image via Complete Recipes.

Another extremely simple and festive Champagne cocktail is a simple rock candy stick placed in a Champagne flute. Image via Hostess with the Mostess. 

This recipe, via Style Me Pretty, combines three of my favorites - Champagne, pear vodka and St. Germain. it's simple, light and just slightly sweet and perfect for either New Year's Eve or a New Year's Day brunch. 

How about a Gatsby-inspired Champagne Cocktail that involves, a sugar cube and Green Chartreuse, symbolic of the green light, perhaps? According to legend Chartreuse (pronounced shar-trew-z) is a French liqueur that has been made by the Carthusian Monks since 1737, according to instructions set out in a secret manuscript given to them by François Annibal d'Estrées in 1605. Made of distilled alcohol aged with 130 herbs, plants and flowers, this liqueur is named after the Monks' Grande Chartreuse monastery, located in the Chartreuse Mountains in the general region of Grenoble, France. For a much more detailed history on Chartreuse, visit their website. Chartreuse gives its name to the colour chartreuse, which was first used as a term of colour in 1884. And is one of the handful of liquors that continues to age and improve in the bottle. 

The drink, according to Refinery 29 is only available at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. But they were kind enough to share the recipe. Image via Refinery 29.

Of course there are the traditional Mimosas and Bellinis, but we tend to think they're more apropos for brunch. Of course there is never a bad time to drink any sort of bubbly, and if you're awake long after the ball drops, we do encourage you to transition seamlessly into the daytime hours! 

We wish you all a wonderful, safe and happy New Year's Celebration!

Cheers!