Suze, Sans Banshees
This week, with Vesta still away on vacation, we bring you one of our earliest recorded episodes, a wonderful discussion of Suze, the iconic yellow gentian (yes, we did eventually learn how to pronounce gentian correctly) liqueur that has been a hallmark of Parisian Cafes for over a century.
Cocktails discussed:
La Américaine:
3/4 oz. Pineau de Charentes
3/4 oz. Suze
Soda Water
Combine the Pineau and Suze in a highball glass with ice, and stir to combine. Fill glass with fresh ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit, and serve.
Crown Heights:
1 oz. Poitin
1 oz. Bols 100% Malt Genever
1 oz. dry vermouth
1/2 oz. Suze liqueur
1 barspoon Maraska maraschino liqueur
3 dashes pomelo bitters (or yuzu bitters)
Based on the recipe by Masahiro Urushido, as published in The Japanese Art of the Cocktail
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a orange twist.
Further Reading:
This Summer, Drink Suze. Also, Learn What Suze Is. https://www.bonappetit.com/drinks/cocktails/article/what-is-suze
Suze: The French Apéritif Your Cocktail Is Missing https://www.eater.com/drinks/2016/6/9/11852694/suze-aperitif-french-cocktail
Umstrittene Herkunft des Aperitifs "Suze" https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/umstrittene-herkunft-des-aperitifs--suze-/4648940
Original Suze https://www.suze.com/en/original-suze
Gentians Provide Fall Color – and Bumblebee Food https://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/gentians
Morphology of gentians https://gentian.rutgers.edu/morph.htm