Springtime In A Glass

Springtime In A Glass

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for a little Spring, linen wardrobe, later sunsets, tulips, daffodils, green peas, kite flying, and more of my Springtime In A Glass.

Before we get to the recipe, here is a little bit about some of the ingredients included.

What is St. Germain elderflower liqueur? St. Germain elderflower liqueur is a popular French liqueur made from elderflower blossoms. It has a delicate floral and slightly sweet flavor, making it a versatile ingredient in cocktails and mixed drinks. Yes, even mock-tails.

What is rose water? It is a flavored water made by steeping rose petals in water. It is commonly used in cooking, baking, and skincare products for its delicate floral aroma and flavor. Rose water adds a subtle floral note to dishes and can also be used as a natural fragrance or toner for the skin. And, of course, cocktails.

Lastly, what’s the difference between liquor and liqueur you ask? Mainly the production process and the strength of the liquid as a result.

Liquor, also known as spirits, refers to distilled alcoholic beverages that are typically made from grains or fruits. Examples of liquor include vodka, whiskey, rum, and gin. Liquor is distilled to increase its alcohol content and is often enjoyed neat or in cocktails.

On the other hand, liqueur is a sweetened and flavored distilled spirit that is often lower in alcohol content compared to liquor. Liqueurs are made by infusing fruits, herbs, spices, or other flavorings into a base spirit such as brandy or rum. In St. Germain’s case, elderflowers.

Liqueurs are known for their variety of flavors and are commonly used in cocktails and desserts for their unique taste profiles. Other examples of liqueurs include Grand Marnier, Kahlua, and Amaretto.

Springtime In A Glass

Ingredients

1 oz St Germain Elderflower liqueur

Bar spoon to 1/4 oz of freshly squeezed lime juice (double strain to remove the pulp optional)

Bar spoon to 1/4 oz of honey syrup

3-5 dashes of rose water

Champagne

*optional a couple of tiny drops of orange bitters

**Equal parts lime juice to honey syrup; the quantity depends on the desired level of sweetness

Method

For the honey syrup

To make honey syrup using a 3:1 ratio of honey to water, follow these steps:

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions:

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the honey and water
  2. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until the honey is fully dissolved into the water
  3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the honey syrup cool to room temperature
  4. Transfer the honey syrup to a clean jar or bottle for storage
  5. Store the honey syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks

For the drink

Add all ingredients, except the champagne, to a shaker with some ice. Shake gently to blend without watering down the mixture. Pour into flute stemware. Top with your choice of champagne. For a more delicate flavor, consider using Ruinart Blanc de Blanc. For a bolder taste and texture, opt for a Pinot Noir-forward Veuve Clicquot. Express a lemon and orange peel over the drink and garnish with a channel-cut lemon peel and a lavender (or any color) edible viola flower on top.

iPhone photo on marble bar

Cheers!

Please enjoy responsibly under the legal drinking age.

This photo taken by me in Paris, France
#TatumsTinyKitchen

Where to buy stemware and stuff for squeezing those fresh limes and jiggers for accuracy? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront

*please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you Thank you.

Ruinart Blanc Singulier Champagne

This wine is bubbles. This wine is delicate and crisp. This wine is slate and mineral. This wine is chalk and citrus. This wine is acidic and bright. This wine is an offering of subtle sweetness. This wine is vanilla and spices with pear. This wine is champagne. This wine is Reims, France. This wine is Ruinart Blanc Singulier. This wine is.

This wine is a sweet, satisfying, lingering on the tongue finish, leaving me wanting more. This wine pairs well with pasta and parm, mushroom and pork, a crusty butter and jam-slathered baguette, French fries with Dijon mustard, oysters, and triple cream cheese doused in aged balsamic. Lemon meringues. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, I enjoyed it alongside a spaghetti noodles olive oil Parmigiana Reggiano and a Dom Perignon back.

This wine retails for $150 USD. Hold or drink now.

Best served chilled between 46-50 Fahrenheit.

Find out more about this wine on the Ruinart website.

Where to buy stemware, ice buckets and champagne stoppers (won’t need it with this one though) Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course

**I may receive commissions from eligible purchases** thank you

Kir Royal

Why mess with a great thing called champagne? There are exceptions, and the Kir Royal is one of them. It combines champagne and blackcurrant liqueur, with a lemon twist as an optional addition. Kir Royal is a classic French cocktail that is a variation of the Kir cocktail. The Kir is made with a dry white wine, usually white Burgundy, and was named after Félix Kir. The Kir Royal came about later, replacing the white wine with champagne. It is a superb and luxurious choice for any drinking occasion. Whether you need a reason to celebrate or simply want to enjoy a refreshing drink before with or after dinner, the Kir Royal is a perfect.

To make the Kir Royal cocktail, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Champagne (brand of choice)
  • Crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur or Chambord but traditionally it’s cassis but you can’t go wrong with either)

Cassis is a blackcurrant liqueur and is made by macerating blackcurrants in alcohol, typically brandy or neutral spirits, and then sweetening the mixture with sugar. The result a sweet rich viscous and slightly tart spirit.

Chambord is a premium raspberry liqueur that is made in Loire Valley of France. It is known for its deep red color and rich, sweet flavor. Chambord is made from a blend of raspberries, blackberries, and other fruits, which are infused in a base spirit along with vanilla, honey, and other botanicals. Chambord is thinner consistency than Crème se cassis.

  • Lemon twist (optional, for garnish)

Method

  1. Chill your champagne flutes in the refrigerator beforehand to keep the cocktail cold. A polished glass is best as spots become visible as glass warms.
  2. Pour about 1/2 to 3/4 ounce (15-22 ml) of crème de cassis into each chilled flute. Adjust the amount to your taste preferences – more for a sweeter cocktail, less for a drier one.
  3. Slowly pour the champagne into a flute, filling it up two horizontal fingers from the top. The ratio of champagne to crème de cassis is typically 5 parts champagne to 1 part crème de cassis, but you can adjust it to your liking of course.
  4. Gently stir the cocktail with a bar spoon (or not) to mix the crème de cassis and champagne together.
  5. If desired, garnish the cocktail with a lemon twist. Simply twist a strip of lemon peel over the glass to release the oils, then drop it into the flute. Channel lemon peel looks prettiest of the twists.
  6. Serve the Kir Royal immediately and enjoy! Duh!

Note: It’s important to pour the champagne slowly and carefully to avoid excessive fizzing and overflowing. Sometimes it helps to pour the champagne into the glass first, then the cassis. Also, make sure to use a good quality champagne for the best flavor. I have been known to use a rosé champagne on occasion, fyi. Whatever you got is sometimes the answer.

The little round bottle is Chambord

Where to buy the goods? Glasses ice buckets and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront

**please know I may receive commissions on all eligible purchases** thank you thank you thank you

Ruinart Rosé Champagne 375ml

This wine is pink and sparkling. This wine has a floral, fruity nose. This wine is red berries. This wine is crisp with bright mineral character. This wine is delicate and vibrant. This wine is champagne. This wine is specifically Ruinart Rosé Champagne. This wine is.

This bottle is in a smaller format, measuring 375ml. This size bottle is equivalent to about two and a half glasses. Smaller format wines tend to age faster and are typically brighter and crisper. This wine is predominantly made from Pinot Noir grapes. It was gifted to me with the agreement that if I opened the bottle to pour a single glass, I would take the remainder home. This wine does not disappoint.

This wine pairs with shellfish, cheeses (cow and vegan), pork pâte, salads and chocolate mousse and ganache desserts.

This wine retails for about $50 USD retail. Drink now.

Ruinart is one of the oldest Champagne houses in the world, founded in 1729 in Reims, France.

Ruinart has a rich history and has been associated with art and culture throughout the years. The house has collaborated with renowned artists to create unique and artistic packaging for their Champagnes, reflecting their commitment to craftsmanship and creativity. Find out more from their website and social media accounts.

Where to buy stemware, champagne toppers, ice buckets and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. Please know I will receive commissions on all eligible purchases.

Pet Nat and Cake

This wine is pale pink. This wine is sparkling. This wine is light fruit forward with delicate bubbles. This wine is acidic and bright. This wine is from France. This wine is Pet Nat. This wine is.

What is Pet Nat? Pet Nat is a sparkling wine lower in sugar and alcohol content. It’s known for being unpredictable because it is bottled before first fermentation takes place and without additional yeast. This method is known as methode ancestrale. This method is completely different than that of champagne’s Méthode Champenoise despite both being sparkling wine and both originating in France. Friendly reminder, champagne isn’t Champagne if it’s not from Champagne, France.

Domaine Saint Cyr Pet Nat Gamay Rosé is a light sparkling wine made from 100% Gamay grapes. It is priced at an average of $28 USD per bottle. I purchased this particular wine from my local Erewhon Market. I decided to pair it with my sour cream buttercream-frosted sour cream vanilla cake due to its acidity, fruitiness, and texture. In addition to cake, this wine also pairs well with shellfish, sushi, and salads, and squash and cheese. It is a fun, bright light wine with a pop top that can be enjoyed on any occasion, whether it’s a regular everyday kind of day or a special event. I say everyday as life is the special occasion after all. Don’t you just love the label?

“Oh, and what is Gamay, you ask?”

Gamay is a red grape variety that is primarily grown in the Beaujolais region of France. It is known for producing light-bodied, fruity wines with flavors of red berries, cherries, and sometimes a hint of banana. Gamay wines are typically low in tannins and have a refreshing acidity, making them an easy to drink wine. Gamay rosé wines, which have a pale pink color and exhibit similar fruit-forward characteristics as the lighter red wines. Gamay rosé is often enjoyed as a refreshing summer wine. This, Domaine Saint Cyr Pet Nat Gamay Rosé, certainly fits the bill indeed.

Waiting for the light..

Where to buy the food? You know sparklers, glasses, bottle opener and such? I may earn commissions with eligible purchases, FYI.

Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course.

Please enjoy responsibly and be of the legal drinking age.

wine tasting The Domaines Rothschild Prestige Selection 2020

This wine is clear. This wine is ruby crimson. This wine is casis with berries. This wine is medium body with mild notable tannins. This wine is earthy. This wine is Old World. This wine is a Bordeaux blend. This wine is Rothchild Prestige Bordeaux Rogue Selection. This wine is.

Domaines Rothschild Bordeaux wine refers specifically to wines produced by the Rothschild family, who are renowned for their winemaking heritage and expertise dating back to the 17th century. They have several prestigious wine estates in Bordeaux, France, including Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild, and Château Clarke. These wines are highly regarded and sought after by wine enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

Bordeaux wines are typically made from a blend of different grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec for red wines, and Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle for white wines. The specific blend of grapes used can vary depending on the winemakers and the specific appellation (region) within Bordeaux.

The Prestige Collection is a reflection the of Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild to producing wines even if they don’t undergo the same long aging process. This wine is can be found on various wine websites. The price is around $16-$18USD per bottle. It can be paired with marinated tofu, mushroom dishes, cheese, and meats. Drink now.

Please enjoy responsibly and be of the legal drinking age

Where to buy glasses and decanter and corkscrews and stuffs related? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront

Les-Rendez Vous De Billecart-Salmon No. 1

This wine is clear. This wine is a golden yellow. This wine is sparkling. This wine is Old World. This wine is apple and pear. This wine is citrus. This wine is brioche. This fresh crisp lively and delicate with fine bubbles. This wine is dry with subtle minerality. This wine is personality and finesse. This wine is Pinot Meunier. This wine is from maison Billecart-Salmon. This wine is limited edition. This wine is Les-Rendez Vous De Billecart-Salmon No. 1. This wine.

Those that may have underestimated this one will figure out with a few sips that it does just fine all on its own. No. 1 is a fun sparkling wine that pairs well with shellfish, sushi, patte, caviar, soft cheeses and French fries.

This wine retails $65-$110 USD depending on the site. Drink now.

Pinot Meunier is Pinot Noir’s fraternal twin, let’s say. This grape is one of three grapes that is often used in many non-vintage champagne blends to balance or soften the non-vintage.

Billecart-Salmon is located in the village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in northern France near Épernay. (Épernay is left bank of Marne and the capital of Champagne.) It was founded in 1818. This house has been family owned and operated for seven generations.

Where to buy the glasses ice buckets and stuff?

Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront

*i may receive commissions from eligible purchases

Please be of the legal limit drinking age and please drink responsibly

the factory wine

This wine is clear. This wine is ruby in color. This wine is berries. This wine is cherries and cranberries. This wine is light in body with little to mild but elegant tannins. This wine is strawberries. This wine is spice. This wine is silky smooth. This wine has oak. This wine is a red wine. This wine is New World. This wine is California. This wine is 2018. This wine Pinot Noir (also a grape found in champagne). This wine is Sleepy Hallow vineyards. This wine is l’usine 2018 Saint Lucia Sleepy Hallow Pinot Noir. This wine is art. This wine.

l’usine translates from French to English meaning the factory. Yes, Warhol tribute. This wine in particular hangs out in French oak barrels in Saint Lucia Highlands Monterey County California for several months. It is available for purchase on their website and through select retailers (New York and Los Angeles looking at you). Unfortunately, at this time, there isn’t a formal tasting room on location. Drink it now or hold.

This wine pairs with pork, duck, salmon, tofu, and morel mushroom dishes. It also pairs well with brie cheeses charcuteries caramels and chocolate mousse.

The pricing of the l’usine is $100-110 USD.

l’usine cellars

Oh, I’m not sure who the model is on the bottle. I have a vague recollection of a couple of conversations about this from pre-COVID days. Is she a daughter, a niece, a friend, or a sister? I can’t say for sure. I called the number on the website, and the lady I spoke to wasn’t sure who the model was either.

Where to buy glasses, wine openers and stuff?

Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront

*I may receive commissions on eligible purchases

Billecart-Salmon Rosé Champagne

This wine is light pink. This wine has hints of citrus and berries fruit. This wine has rose. This wine is sparkling. This wine has medium body with tannins. This wine is fresh. This wine is dry. This wine is bright. This wine is chalk. This wine is right amount of fruit perfectly moist crust doughy pie? (This is my kind of pie.) This wine is Old-World. This wine is a blend. This wine is from is from Champagne, France. This wine is non-vintage. This wine is champagne. This wine is elegant. This wine is finesse. This wine is Billecart-Salmon brut rosé champagne.

This wine retails for $90-$100 USD. This wine can be enjoyed immediately or for the everyday or held and reserved for any special occasion. This wine can be enjoyed on its own or with food. This wine pairs perfectly with caviar, lox, salads, or anything really. Certain foods will be better of course but if you want this with steak or a burger with caramelized onions on brioche, by all means.

This one is almost always in my refrigerator. The only reason it wouldn’t be is because an empty bottle sits on my counter. This house is over 200 years old located in Mareuil-sur-Ay near Épernay and has been making rosé champagne since the 1800s. It’s is Chardonnay dominate wine followed by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. This wine.

More about champagne check other blog posts here.

Where to buy the goods? Glasses champagne buckets and stuffs Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront

*i may earn commissions from eligible purchases

an example of an ISO glass

Crémant

Crémant is sparkling wine from France. It’s typically made with more grapes than champagne. Champagne is made typically made using three or in some cases one grape varietals. The process, methode traditionelle, the same for both. The wine can only be called champagne if it’s from the Champagne region of France and crémant if it’s from one of its producing regions; Loire, Alsace, Bourgogne, and Limoux. Crémant was the name given in the 1980s because of law.

This one featured here is is Gratien & Meyer Cremant (Gra-shen My-er) De Loire Brut Rose. 100 % Cabernet Franc and has a price point range of $16-$20 USD per bottle. This wine is bright with berry fruit and dry. It’s excellent on its own or as a topper to many cocktails.