Marionette Elderflower Liqueur
When Saint Germain elderflower liqueur hit the market 20-odd years ago, bartenders went nuts. Not only was the bottle gorgeous (and perfect for the Belle Epoque cocktail zeitgeist of the time), but the product was delicate, floral, sweet and yet well-balanced. We may have gone a little overboard, but to this day, cocktails featuring gin, elderflower and cucumber are a permanent part of the cocktail cannon. Now, finally, we have a local option in Marionette’s Elderflower, made with Victorian elderflower blossoms. Grapefruit, lychee and delicate white flower aromas leap from the glass along with a note of grass clippings. The palate is sweet and light with less sugar than most commercial liqueurs and lovely integration. I do wish that perfume would hang on a little longer and express a little cleaner, but this is still a wonderful addition to the Australian cocktail ingredient toolbox.
