By Olivia Cuccaro
The Scented Stretch
- 1 oz Holland style white rum
- 1/4 oz strained lemon juice
- 1/2 oz St-Germain
- 1/2 oz crisp white wine, preferably Grüner Veltliner or Sancerre
- 1/4 oz honey syrup (3:1, honey:water)
- 1 oz soda water
To create our cocktail of the week, combine all ingredients except soda water in a Collins glass over crushed ice. Add soda water and stir gently. Garnish with a pinch of flaky salt, lemon wheel and a small sprig of Thai basil.
A stellar cocktail that’s low-ABV can be a saving grace during a lengthy night out. Made with St-Germain, this light but flavorful Scented Stretch was created by bartender Greg Best for the Ticonderoga Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Honey syrup adds a sweetness that’s balanced by the fresh flavor of lemon and aroma of Thai basil, while the proportions of rum, liqueur and wine keep it low-proof for easy sipping. The St-Germain itself itself hints at pear, peach and grapefruit notes, making the elderflower liqueur a delicate addition to cocktails of all varieties.
In France, cocktails of the aperitif variety are a customary kickoff to the evening. St-Germain explores this genre of cocktails and more in its new book, How to Drink French Fluently, a “drinker’s guide to joie de vivre.” A collaboration between PUNCH Creative and Camille Ralph Vidal, Global Ambassador for St-Germain, St-Germain’s first cocktail book showcases the elderflower liqueur in more than 30 expertly-crafted recipes.
“I definitely wanted to include a cocktail from Bartender Greg Best at Atlanta’s Ticonderaga Club in St-Germain’s first book,” said Vidal in speaking to Elite Traveler. “He’s such an amazing bartender and really gets the low-ABV cocktail movement. We featured his cocktail ‘The Scented Stretch’ in the book since it works so well with such a wide variety of flavors. St-Germain’s elderflower notes and versatility really come alive in the cocktail, and it’s so simple to recreate and enjoy at any time of the day or night. I love drinking this cocktail especially on a Sunday afternoon with friends. It’s light and refreshing, and it’s a beautiful reminder to slow down and savor each and every moment.”
Related
The cocktail index in How to Drink French Fluently covers the Brunch, Daytime, Apertif, Dinner and Nightcap categories to provide readers with recipes for any time of day, all featuring St-Germain. Top bartenders and tastemakers from Eleven Madison Park in New York, one of Elite Traveler‘s Top 100 Restaurants, to Compère Lapin in New Orleans weigh in on everything from “culinary cocktails” to the “anatomy of a nightcap.” This book is your guide to proportions, food pairings, entertaining and instructions for creating your own syrups, juices and more. Get your copy of How to Drink French Fluently here to master mixology for any occasion.
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