Elusive spirits crème de violette and Batavia-Arrack van Oosten have just become available in Missouri, giving pre-Prohibition cocktails a second wind. Crème de violette is a delicate elixir that has the flavor, aroma and color of violets. The version in circulation locally is made with wildflowers from the Austrian Alps. Look for crème de violette concoctions – think old-school Aviations and Blue Moons – at Atomic Cowboy, Eclipse Restaurant, Monarch Restaurant and Niche Taste Bar.
BC’s Kitchen is riffing on classic punch recipes using Batavia-Arrack van Oosten, a Dutch-Indonesian spirit full of citrus and spice. Also expect to see it on the cool-weather cocktail list at Eclipse.
If you’d like to put your home bar into action, you can purchase these rebounding spirits at Lukas Liquor Superstore, Provisions Gourmet Market (crème de violette only), The Wine and Cheese Place, and The Wine Merchant, where anyone thirsty for knowledge can take a vintage cocktail class on Oct. 1. Call The Wine Merchant at 314.863.5670 for details.
This article appears in Sep 1-30, 2009.