St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur is a 750mL French liqueur bottled at 20% ABV (40 proof), made from fresh elderflower petals hand-picked in the Savoie region of the French Alps — the brand states up to 1,000 blossoms go into every bottle. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 20% (40 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Origin: France — elderflowers from the Savoie / Haute-Savoie, French Alps
- Key ingredient: Fresh petals of Sambucus nigra (European black elder)
- Harvest: Hand-picked over a roughly 3–4 week window in late spring, then macerated promptly
- Character: No preservatives or stabilisers; the pale gold colour comes naturally from the pollen
- Recognition: Grand Gold, Monde Selection (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012); Chairman's Award, Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2010
The Bartender's Ketchup, Born in Saint-Germain-des-Pres
St. Germain was created by Robert J. Cooper of Cooper Spirits, inspired by an elderflower cocktail he tasted in London in 2001, launched in 2007, and named for the Paris neighbourhood of Saint-Germain-des-Pres; Bacardi acquired the brand in 2013. Its raw material allows no shortcuts: elderflowers bloom for only a few weeks each late spring in the French Alps, are picked by hand — famously carried down by bicycle so the delicate blossoms are not bruised — and are macerated promptly while fresh. That fleeting harvest is why the liqueur earned its bar-world nickname, "bartender's ketchup": a splash improves almost anything it touches. Each bottle is numbered with the year its petals were collected. Explore it on the St. Germain vendor page and in our liqueurs collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the producer's notes: fresh elderflower leading, with pear, peach and grapefruit character and a hint of honeysuckle — subtle, delicate and unmistakably floral, with tropical-fruit softness through the finish.
How to Enjoy
The signature serve is the St-Germain Spritz (also called a Hugo): the liqueur topped with sparkling wine and sparkling water over ice with a lemon twist. It also lifts a Gin & Tonic, a Margarita, or a plain glass of sparkling wine. More aperitif building blocks are in our spirits collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is St. Germain made from?
Fresh elderflower petals (Sambucus nigra) hand-picked in the Savoie region of the French Alps — the brand states up to 1,000 blossoms go into each bottle.
How strong is St. Germain?
20% ABV (40 proof), in a 750mL bottle — liqueur strength, designed to be lengthened with sparkling wine or soda.
What is the classic St. Germain cocktail?
The St-Germain Spritz / Hugo Spritz: St. Germain over ice topped with sparkling wine and sparkling water, finished with a lemon twist.
One bottle, a thousand blossoms — order St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur online today from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
