ST GERMAIN ELDERFLOWER LIQUEUR

St-Germain was the first elderflower liqueur to reach the market, and its supply still runs on a three-to-four-week window each spring. Blossoms are hand-picked from elder trees in the Savoie, in the French Alps, gathered in the cool of early morning and often carried out by bicycle so the petals do not bruise. They are macerated in an eau-de-vie made from Chardonnay and Gamay within 48 hours of picking, then sweetened. The result reads floral rather than perfumed — pear, lychee, honeysuckle and grapefruit peel, with enough acidity to keep it from turning cloying.