“The gin kept my heart alive but bemazed my brain”― Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
“We’re having adult drinks tonight,” stated my sister-in-law, Mirna. My curiosity was aroused. Mirna, offering me a cocktail? I knew this must be something special. She is a creative genius with food, plants and now drinks.
I was visiting my brother, sister-in-law and nephew in Colorado for a few days of R&R. Up high in the Rockies near Winter Park, we all perched on their balcony admiring the white-capped peaks and dense forest of layering greens. The evening was taking hold, a cool wind ruffling the Granny Smith green aspens. Hummingbirds swooped in to flutter nearby, then bravely take multiple drinks from the hanging feeders.
I was handed the cocktail and took a sip. The soft zing of this drink made me take notice. What was this delightful, refreshing, crisp concoction? The earthy bitterness of the gin on my tongue preludes a soft flowery after glow with hints of citrus that linger. What else but a mixture of herbs, berries and flowers all native to this landscape. The Meyer Flower Cooler (a name and recipe that resembles the cocktail Mirna stirred up) combines Boulder-bred RoundHouse gin, St. Germain liqueur, and fresh lemon juice. Raw botanicals of juniper, coriander, citrus peel, star anise, angelica and orris root are infused with the micro distilled gin and bottled by hand in small batches. Impressive.
The St. Germain is birthed from freshly picked, early spring elderflower blossoms grown in France near the Alps. This French liqueur hints of citrus and tropical fruits and is famous for its inclusion in an apéritif called The St. Germain Cocktail, a pairing of champagne, St. Germain and sparkling water, served over ice in a Collins glass. Another enticing summer drink idea???
On our mountain hike earlier in the day, we spotted many juvenile juniper berry bushes and also elderflowers. So, how appropriate to celebrate the evening with tastes of nature.
Ingredients
Method
- Shake all liquids together with ice. Strain into ice-filled Collins glasses. If the gin is too much for you, dress with a floater of St. Germain. Sip with good company. You will not be disappointed.
These two websites tell the stories behind the spirits and include cocktail recipes~they are fabulous.
“We were not a hugging people. In terms of emotional comfort it was our belief that no amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well made cocktail.”― David Sedaris, Naked
Ciao and Happy Summer Solstice! May all your wishes come true.
Love,
Mary
the only thing missing is a group picture of your colorado family enjoying this summer drink………..
Loved this! Especially the quote from David Sedaris at the end. My husband is in total agreement.
Janet
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:04:09 +0000
To: janetnunn@msn.com
What a beautifully refreshing drink! Thank you for sharing your adventure, Nick and I can’t wait to try this for the summer! And I love that even the hummingbirds were our for happy hour, too cute!
Lovely! And I know you had a delightful trip.
Mountain high paradise…even better with a drink and a view. I can’t wait for the perfect time to make and savor this summer libation.
I made these for a friend’s birthday celebration and they were a hit! I did a vodka version, they were smooth, but I personally like the aromatics of the gin. Couldn’t stop myself from playing a little more so I added a heavy splash of Fever-Tree tonic water. Oh yeah! The Myer Flower Cooler will become a summer standard in my bar, thanks Mary for introducing me to these beauties!
Keith you ARE a mixologist! What is Fever-Tree tonic? Does it cause your temperature to rise? I anxiously await an excuse for a party so I can try one of these!!
Thanks Meghan. This refreshing drink really surprised me, being a wine drinker. Give it a go and let me know what you think!
Fever Tree tonic is a premium tonic water, and yes after a few drinks everyone gets hotter 😉 When you’re using wonderful gins or other spirits it’s a shame to use a tonic water with artificial flavors and corn syrup sweetener. There are now number of small batch tonic syrups available with real quinine that you mix with club soda for a G&T worth sharing at sunset.