St. Elder (Elderflower) Liqueur 750ml

St. Elder is a small batch American liqueur produced by St. Elder Artisanal Liqueur in Somerville, Massachusetts. Unlike the well known French elderflower liqueurs that source their blossoms from Europe, St. Elder built its identity around American Elder, or Sambucus Canadensis, a native plant found across warmer regions of the US. The brand has picked up notable recognition in the category, including a score of 93 points from The Tasting Panel and a Best in Show honor at the World Spirits Competition.

The liqueur begins with fresh extracts of American Elder blossoms, small, delicate, creamy white flowers that typically bloom in late spring. These are infused into a fine liqueur base in small batches, a hands on process that keeps production limited and closely controlled compared to larger scale elderflower brands. It is bottled at 20 percent alcohol by volume, putting it in line with other elderflower liqueurs on the market while positioning it at a more accessible price point.

On the palate St. Elder offers silky floral character layered with alpine herb aromas, sweet ripe stone fruit, and a note of citrusy grapefruit that keeps the sweetness in check. The overall effect is balanced rather than perfumey, with enough structure to stand up in a cocktail rather than simply adding background sweetness. It mixes especially well with gin, vodka, champagne, or prosecco.