Manageability – Too Annoying for a Fucking Martini
Unless you’re the Pope, you probably don’t know who St. Germain was. He was actually the patron Saint of the elderflower, or “sambucus”. It is rumored in the 1470’s he lived off this flowering honeysuckle for three straight months while meditating on the gospel at his convent in northern England.
I’m just kidding, you heathen. He wasn’t even real. In fact, St. Germain is an elderflower liqueur distributed by Bacardi. It has a soft herbal backing that pairs quite nicely with the acid and sour grapefruit in the French Tart Martini. The flavors combined for a tangy balance. Mine had a strong vodka pop to it, but that may be because I like my martini’s to have some teeth. I went ahead and made a whole pitcher, and then drank it, much to my regret. I also enjoyed the sweet kick of the rosemary simple syrup I made on the stovetop, which is probably the same way ol’ St. Germain did all those years ago.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka (gin would work too. I guess all booze technically “works”)
- 1 oz elderflower liquor (recommended: St. Germain)
- 1-2 oz fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice, strained
- ¼ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ oz rosemary simple syrup*
Directions
- *For the rosemary syrup, add two medium sprigs of fresh rosemary along with 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to simmer and stir until sugar dissolves. Turn off heat and allow it to steep for 30 minutes until it cools. Remove rosemary and store in an airtight jar in refrigerator. Probably throw it away later.
- In a mixing glass three-quarters filled with ice, combine all liquid ingredients. Stir until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a small slice of grapefruit or rosemary sprig.