The Return of Crème Yvette
For classic cocktail fans like me, Crème Yvette is one of the many ingredients we wish we could find. 
It’s been defunct in the U.S. since the late 1960’s or so, when Charles Jacquin et Cie stopped production. Thankfully, we have other violette liqueur options to use now, but almost no one has tasted the proprietary blend of violet flowers and other flavors in Crème Yvette in decades (except for perhaps at Tales of the Cocktail 2007, based on this photo).
Well that’s about to change. I was at The Violet Hour here in Chicago recently, and happened to spot this bottle on the back of the bar. What is it? A sample bottle of Crème Yvette from Charles Jacquin et Cie.
I managed to talk the gentleman behind the bar out of a little taste (and snuck a picture), and it was fantastic. Delicate violet flavors, with a few subtle spices dancing on my tongue. Its a bit higher in proof than the others (they’re both 20% alcohol, this one is 27.5%), which may help it retain its flavor longer.
Next time I’m there, I’ll have to order a Blue Moon and see how it changes with the Crème Yvette instead of another violet liqueur.
Wow, that’s pretty exciting news. I’d be interested to hear how it tastes compared to the Hermes violet, which has a much less true-violet taste than the Rothman & Winter or Benoit Serres versions.