St. Elder Natural Elderflower Liqueur

This review for St. Elder Natural Elderflower Liqueur follows my previous review for the original, St. Germain. Let’s see how it stacks up in comparison: Country of Origin: United States ABV: 20% Price: $16.99 Nose: Sweet, with a dulled brightness. This quite a bit lighter than St. Germain. Fruity and floral, but lacks depth, density, and the green, “leafy” note of the St. Germain. This has a sweetness reminiscent of a light agave syrup and leans more towards canned peaches and faint citrus. Palate: Sweet, bright, and fruity, with more muted floral notes. Where St. Germain feels silky and syrupy, this has a soft and velvety mouthfeel. I don’t know what the base spirit is, but I detect a bit of dull graininess. As with the nose, this has more agave-like character rather than honey. It’s not as dense nor layered as St. Germain – it’s a fairly one-note peachy-citrusy-floral affair. Finish: Short and sweet finish, with the faintest bit of citrusy bitterness as it trails off. Verdict: Not bad by any means but St. Elder doesn’t quite rise to the same level of greatness as St. Germain. I find myself missing the depth and richness of St. Germain as the St. Elder doesn’t have as many facets to display. I think this would make a fine stand-in for St. Germain as a mixer, and it would save you about $10 as well. That said, it’s really no contest between the two, particularly when tasting neat. 3.75 ~ Very Good

An inexpensive way to enjoy a St. Germaine and champagne. I pair it with Barefoot’s Brut Cuvée champagne, and it makes the perfect cocktail.

Retroactive addition