Violets, clove, brioche, citrus
Pair with caviar, a plate of cold smoked trout, or play off the purple color with a bright beet salad.
Also known as the “thinking woman’s Kir Royale,” this intriguing dusty-pink drink adapted from The Stork Club Bar Book is served with two floating cloves and a twist of lemon. The result is a complex, hard-to-pin-down taste that makes for a good conversation starter. The original recipe calls for Crème Yvette, a liqueur from 1890 that was made from violets, berries, and spices—it fell out of favor for a century but has recently been reintroduced by the Cooper Spirits Company in Philadelphia, the makers of St. Germain. Some bartenders substitute crème de Violette, which is more floral. We love the foxy gait of the classic. The clove garnish may seem superfluous at first, but it accentuates the spice notes in the liqueur as you get deeper into the drink.
¼ ounce (7 ml) Crème Yvette (or crème de Violette)
4 ounces (120 ml) Brut Champagne
2 whole cloves
Lemon twist, for garnish
Measure Crème Yvette into a champagne flute, then top off with Champagne and drop in two cloves. Garnish with a lemon twist on the side of the glass.
COCKTAILING FOR COUPLES: SIX ROMANTIC DRINKS
Like cooking for someone, making a gorgeous cocktail is a seductive art. If you’re looking to woo a hunk or honey, let these visually stunning elixirs set the mood. Draw a bath and serve an opulent Rose Cocktail. Plan a proposal around a Leap Year or Juliet and Romeo—both have good stories. Or, if you need to redeem yourself: a bar of chocolate and a Between the Sheets.
Champagne cocktails bring shimmer and luxury to celebratory events like birthdays and anniversaries. For a spectacular toast, choose the deep purple bubbles of a Kir Royale, or go all out with the Soyer au Champagne.