The social distancing drinker

I’ve been exceedingly obedient when it comes to the restrictions on overseas travel, despite my complete inability to understand the rationale behind the ban or what we are, or are not, allowed to do.

This blind obedience has meant that I have been unable to play my usual summer game of trying to spot the drink of the moment, but my spies on the Continent tell me that this summer’s drink is the St-Germain Spritz. I’m reliably informed that this elderflower spritz is edging Aperol out in French pavement cafes, on Greek islands and in Danish surfing resorts.

In a rare moment of introspection, Paris Hilton once said that every decade has

“an iconic blonde, like Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana, and right now, I’m that icon”. It is much the same with the drink of the moment. It must be different to the last drink of the moment, but also the same.

Quite how and why a drink becomes fashionable is a perennial mystery. But there is clearly a formula of sorts. In summer, people want something that is low in alcohol, easy on the palate, distinctive, fizzy and fresh.

The St-Germain Spritz, which first became a thing back in 2018, appears to be this year’s blonde. It is a low-alcohol, easy-drinking cocktail made with the French elderflower liqueur St-Germain, which was invented as recently as 2007. It is a sort of French take on an Aperol Spritz, but swaps the bittersweet herbs in the Italian aperitif for floral elderflower. I really like it.

Like most popular drinks, it is very easy to make; just build it right in your glass with some ice. To do this, take a good measure of Prosecco, add half the quanity of St-Germain, ice and a sprig of lavender. We may not be able to make it abroad this year, but there’s nothing stopping you sitting in the garden or on your balcony, pouring yourself this easy and tasty spritz and remembering that the day will come when we can all engage in the sport of people-watching once again in our favourite continental hot spot.