I’ve been hearing rumblings for months. Maybe even a year. I think Rob Cooper might have even mentioned it to me at Tales, last year… Regardless, who cares. It’s here. Its FINALLY here!!!
David Wondrich referred to the Aviation as the “secret handshake” among cocktail bloggers. I admit that before I even heard him utter those words, I was already a fan of the gin – maraschino liqueur – fresh lemon – with a dash of violet liqueur tipple. His declaration was merely a confirmation that I am among friends.
The only downside to discovering the Aviation has been the lack of a decent commercially-available Crème de Violette to use in the drink. The current one made by Rothman & Winter tastes like food coloring to me. Sorry guys, I had to slam anyone, but your Crème de Violette has ruined many an Aviation in my humble estimation. When I heard that Cooper spirits, the folks behind the ridiculously successful and mixology-embraced St. Germain liqueur was coming out with their own violet liqueur, I was thrilled.
I recently moved, relaunched my website (and a million web-related problems along with it), and am about to hit the road for a month to do my national summer media tour with Fre Wines. So, I am beyond busy and stockpiled with boxes of spirits waiting for coverage on The Liquid Muse. Sure, they aren’t paying me to write about them – its purely editorial – so they have to understand that my actual paid beverage consulting gigs come first. Still, I always feel a bit guilty when something has sat for more than 4 or 5 weeks before I can get to it. (Its not personal, folks.)
However, last night, when hauling boxes to-and-fro in my new digs, I saw a Fed Ex from Cooper Spirits. I held my breath, tore it open – and there is was. (Play soundtrack of angel chorus…) The Crème Yvette. Naturally, I ripped it open and sipped it straight from the bottle. Naturally, I grabbed Twitter and bragged to the world that I have a sample. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to try it in an Aviation.
All that I can say, is “Yes, Yes, Yes!” and “More, More, More!” Another triumph. Thank you, dear Mr. Cooper. I have only one request to the bartenders and mixologists who will undoubtedly rejoice as enthusiastically as I…
Let’s not overdo it with this one. I was an early cheerleader for St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur. I am fully behind the product. When it started seeping its way into bars around the country, trust me, I was thrilled for both Rob Cooper and the bartenders using his product. BUT… it has gotten to the point where every freakin’ cocktail list, every freakin’ cocktail competition, every freakin’ cocktail-related anything has an over-abundance of the stuff. Rarely should more than 1/4 – 1/2 ounces of it be used, or the rest of the ingredients are over-powered and the drink becomes too sweet.
Please keep that in mind with the Crème de Violette. Yes, its so good that its tempting to overdo it – but don’t. Moderation is the key to balance – in life and in a cocktail. There is too much of a good thing. And, Cooper’s Crème Yvette is a very, very good thing…