It was followed by Hochstadter's Slow & Low Rock & Rye - a 19th-century pre-made cocktail made with rye whiskey, orange and honey - and Hochstadter's Vatted Rye Whiskey (which I wrote about). Part of HuffPost Food & Drink. With its mysterious flavour, its gracefully grooved art deco bottle and a lovely brand mythology about how its elderflowers were harvested by little old men on bicycles in some idyllic French-speaking location way prettier than wherever you were, it wore a costume of age and continental elegance but was actually a newcomer. The younger Mr. Cooper persisted, however, going so far as to leave the family business to pursue his dream. To print a list of all the drinks in which St-Germain appeared over the years would probably require at least the full Food section. The brand was eventually sold to Bacardi in 2012, but Cooper wasn't content resting on his laurels. He was also a terrific. He was 39. St-Germain, packaged in a striking Art Deco bottle, landed like a thunderclap in the then-burgeoning cocktail world. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. It was his love affair with straight whiskey that led him to Alberta, Canada to find, taste and buy barrels of rye whiskey. For centuries, Pariss Saint-Germain-des-Prs neighborhood has been widely recognized as one of the worlds most prominent meeting places for artistic creation. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA. [2], St-Germain was created by distiller Robert Cooper, son of Norton Cooper, the owner of Charles Jacquin et Cie, after trying an elderflower-based cocktail at a London bar in 2001. He is survived by his wife, the former Kaitrin Cramm, and their two children, William and Charlotte. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. The St-Germain was delicious, and Robert Cooper was warm and affable, enthusiastic about his product and about the spirits business. , updated Tragic news for the bartending community Robert J. Cooper, the creator of the elderflower liqueur St. Germain, passed away on Monday, April 25. Robert J. Cooper, whose unusual elderflower liqueur, St-Germain, introduced in 2007, was so completely embraced by the cocktail community that it became known as "bartender's ketchup," died. St-Germain, packaged in a striking Art Deco bottle, landed like a thunderclap in the then-burgeoning cocktail world. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 70s Robert Germain Leesburg, FL Aliases Robert Thomas St Germaine Robert Thomas St Germain View Full Report Addresses Robert J. Cooper, founder of St-Germain liqueur a staple for any self-respecting bartender died this week at the age of 39. Around the time that St-Germain was introduced, the craft cocktail revolution was gaining traction and a new, creative crop of bartenders were eager to experiment with exotic ingredients. When Cooper unveiled his new idea to his father, also a liqueur magnate, he was convinced the idea was a non-starter. St-Germain has grown to become one of the most valuable bottles in a bartenders arsenal. The sudden death of the St-Germain founder was confirmed by Robyn Greene, senior vice president at family-owned business, the Cooper Spirits Company, in a statement to the New York Times. He also reintroduced Hochstadters Slow & Low to the whiskey market in 2010. Top with the club soda or seltzer, as needed to fill. According to " A Dark Muse ," this is the first confirmed mention of Saint Germain, who was kicked out of England after his release. The Weird (and Wired) Truth Behind Whats Really in Coca-Cola, Why Coca-Cola contracts with a chemical company to manufacture cocaine in New Jersey, Robert J. Cooper, 39, Creator of St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Dies [NY Times], one of the most influential new cocktail ingredients of the past decade, Liquid Deaths New Tea Tallboys Are Coming for AriZonas Neck, If You Took the Drag Away, Then Its Just Another Boring Bar, How to Make Misis Iconic Ricotta-Filled Occhi Pasta. interview. They wanted something different they could work with that had integrity. The drink itself is made from flowers of elderberry plants that grow in France and bloom for just one month of the year. [3] [4] The brand was named after Saint-Germain-des-Prs, and the bottle shape is influenced by Art Deco motifs associated with the Belle poque history of this area. Once you create a new homepage, apply the "solar" page layout to the new homepage. When Cooper responded by leaving the family business behind, his father allegedly told him, Ill hire you back in a year when you fail. As his luck would have it, he did not fail. St-Germain The native New Yorker passed away Monday in. Those who had the pleasure of meeting him noted his kind personality. He moved to Charlott Cooper, a third-generation distiller whose family lineage includes the birth of Crme Yvette and Chambord is most commonly known for creating St-Germain elderflower liqueur. . But a stunning Art Deco-style bottle, sponsorship deals with young mixologists, and clever promotion saw St Germain appear on almost every cocktail menu across the country. Robert Cooper. "What Drinks Should You Use St Germain Liqueur In? In broader terms, it helped resuscitate the dormant liqueur business. Brown disagrees: Cooper worked incredibly hard, he says, and would have been successful regardless. By his account, his father, Norton J. Cooper, gave him the cold shoulder when he suggested creating an elderflower liqueur like the ones he had encountered in bars in London. [1] It is made using the petals of Sambucus nigra from the Savoie region in France, and each bottle is numbered with the year the petals were collected. I'm just a nice lady who likes cocktails and traveling. St-Germain creator Robert Cooper shares why he thinks the brand will truly be an international brand as. Let us raise a glass to his legacy. The St. Germain brand was acquired by Bacardi in 2012. We were all making drinks with it. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Rob Cooper, founder of Cooper Spirits Co. and creator of the wildly popular St. Germain elderflower liqueur, died April 25 in Santa Barbara, CA, according to reports. He was an avid surfer and loved collecting esoteric wines from obscure regions. Robert J. Cooper, whose unusual elderflower liqueur, St-Germain, introduced in 2007, was so completely embraced by the cocktail community that it became known as bartenders ketchup, died on Monday in Santa Barbara, Calif. 21:10 EST 28 Apr 2016 Add the champagne or sparkling white wine, then the elderflower liqueur. It pairs well with almost every spirit, making it incredibly versatile behind the bar. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Chris Pleasance For Dailymail.com In addition to being a great aperitif to throw in a spritz, St-Germain is considered to be a great modifying liqueur, altering the flavor profile of the liquor it is added to. Mr. Cooper was a scion of the family that owns Charles Jacquin et Cie, an old cordials and liqueurs house based in Philadelphia. If your site doesn't have a Weebly "Blog" page, then create a new "Blog" page. This practice allows producers to ensure that the elderflower blossoms are only just beginning to open, meaning the aromas and flavors of the buds will be at their most prominent. QuailBellMagazine.com Last month, there was "sad news in the spirits world" when it was reported by Eater.com and countless other food and beverage blogs that Robert Cooper, the founder of the wildly popular St-Germain elderflower liqueur, died suddenly at the age of 39. Furthermore, St-Germains multitude of complex flavors allows for mixologists and novices alike to experiment with it, leading to its nickname, the bartenders ketchup or the ketchup of liqueurs.. Robert J. Cooper, whose unusual elderflower liqueur, St-Germain, introduced in 2007, was so completely embraced by the cocktail community that it became known as bartenders ketchup, died Monday in Santa Barbara. It was more [money] than I expected to see in a lifetime, Cooper admitted at the time. Now you can go to Whole Foods and get elderflower soft drinks., Robert J. Cooper, 39, Creator of Popular Elderflower Liqueur, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/28/business/robert-j-cooper-39-creator-of-st-germain-elderflower-liqueur-dies.html. In 2012, he sold St-Germain to Bacardi for what was rumored to be a seven-figure sum. Cooper died April 25 in California at the age of 39, leaving behind a wife and two children; the cause of his death has not been released. Cooper was quick to credit bartenders for the success of the spirit, and rightfully so: They fell hard for St-Germain, which can elevate a mediocre sparkling wine, complement the tang of fresh citrus and blend beautifully with the botanicals of gin. He was generous with his time and with his recipe for a new drink, the St-Germain cocktail. He said, Ill hire you back in a year when you fail, Mr. Cooper once recalled. Though he had never viewed elderflower as a cocktail ingredient, the floral concoction changed his perspective. ", "St. Germain Liqueur: What It Is, And What To Do With It", "The Story Behind St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur", "Robert J. Cooper, 39, Creator of Popular Elderflower Liqueur, Dies", "Liqueur Saint-Germain (St-Germain): concept, how to drink, cocktails", "The Cooper Spirits Company - Linked In profile", "St-Germain Elderflower Liquor Acquired By Bacardi, Plans To Go Global", "St-Germain Launches Holidays Series, Salon St-Germain", "St-Germain Is Ushering in New York City's Creative Renaissance", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St-Germain_(liqueur)&oldid=1135574548, This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 14:37. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. ST-GERMAIN COCKTAIL A rare modern classic that comes from the company behind its titular ingredient, the elderflower liqueur St-Germain, this cocktail is refreshing and floral, a perfect spring drink. Robert J. Cooper, the creator of St-Germain, the elderflower liqueur so ubiquitous that it eventually became known as "bartender's ketchup," has died at the age of 39. In news that has shocked the global spirits community, Robert J. Cooper, St-Germain founder, has passed away aged just 39. Robert J. Cooper launched the popular spirit back in 2007. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Nearly a decade ago, as the cocktail renaissance was gaining steam, a lot of drinks started developing a particular flavour note. The comments below have not been moderated, By Activates category 1 section on 'Solar' page layout (e.g., https://www.mysite.com/blog/category/dog.html). The Times notes that it became so ubiquitous, some took to calling it "bartender's ketchup." The sweet spirit is made from hand-picked elderflower blossoms that only bloom for a month each spring in France; it has been heralded as one of the most influential new . By his account, his father, Norton J. Cooper, gave him the cold shoulder when he suggested creating an elderflower liqueur like the ones he had encountered in bars in London. For St-Germain, liqueur is thicker than water. The partnership, which was finalized in 1933, helped transform Jacquins into one of the worlds leading producers of liqueurs and cordials. Please try again, Derek Brown met Cooper when they sat next to each other at the Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) Educational Program nearly 10 years ago. The sum was not revealed, but Mr. Cooper said it was more than I expected to see in a lifetime.. In fact, St-Germains unique coloring does not come from any artificial additives, but instead is a result of the pollen from each bud blending with the liqueurs liquid components.