The Return of Crème Yvette


For classic cocktail fans like me, Crème Yvette is one of the many ingredients we wish we could find. yvette.jpgIt’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.



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June 18th, 2008
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Anita
Posted on:
June 23, 2008 at 5:42 pm

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.

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Sonja Kassebaum
Posted on:
June 25, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to try the Hermes version yet. Of those I have tried, it seemed most similar to the R&W. Next time I’m there, I’ll have to try and sweet talk them out of a side-by-side comparison.

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Kate
Posted on:
August 11, 2008 at 4:52 am

Hooray. I’ve always wanted to try a properly made Blue Moon cocktail.