Specialty of the House: Bu.ku’s Merci Bouquet cocktail
Bu.ku restaurant has a drink, Merci Bouquet, that is yummy. I would love the recipe to make a pitcher of it this summer.
Katy Donegan-Willette
Bu.ku’s event coordinator, Mandi Degnan, was delighted to share the recipe.
She noted that the Raleigh restaurant came up with the cocktail a few years ago when the founder of St. Germain, a popular French liqueur flavored with elderflowers, visited the restaurant.
“He loved it and we’ve had it on our menu ever since,” Degnan wrote in an email. “We think it’s a perfect drink for patio sipping and enjoying summer in Raleigh.”
Specialty of the House gets recipes for local restaurant dishes. Send requests, including your city, to Specialty of the House, The N&O, P.O. Box 191, Raleigh, N.C. 27602; or email aweigl@newsobserver.com.
Merci Bouquet
Bu.ku’s Mandi Degnan has a few suggestions about the ingredients: Use Mas Fin Brut Cava from Catalunya, Spain, but any Cava or not-too-sweet sparkling wine will do. A good ginger beer would be Fever Tree; since the drink is delicate, try to avoid any spicy or strongly flavored ginger beer.
1 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur
2 dashes Fee Brothers Peach Bitters
Sparkling wine, such as a Cava or other not-so-sweet sparkling wine
Ginger beer
Candied ginger
Pour St. Germain elderflower liqueur into a glass and add bitters. Top with equal parts sparkling wine and ginger beer. Garnish with candied ginger. Enjoy.
Yield: 1 serving.
This story was originally published June 27, 2015 at 6:15 PM with the headline "Specialty of the House: Bu.ku’s Merci Bouquet cocktail."