Cocktails and fragrances at Les Senteurs

We’re no experts but we do appreciate that there are striking similiarites between the making of a cocktail and the creation of a perfume. That’s why we teamed up with James Craven at Les Senteurs to talk Scent & Seduction at Les Senteurs. Here are the recipes for the cocktails we chose to illustrate ‘Fresh & Flirty’, ‘Temptress’ and ‘Naughty’ moods in fragrance for Valentine’s Day….

Fresh & Flirty

With thanks to

French 75
Think flirty, think coquettish and girly. In this drink provocative bubbles combine with the delicately fragranced, deeply aromatic botanicals found in Beefeater gin, including wild juniper, coriander, lemons and Seville oranges.

Ingredients:
45ml Beefeater Gin
15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
7.50ml sugar syrup
Champagne/sparkling wine to top
Garnish: Lemon twist

Method:
Shake first three ingredients over ice. Strain into chilled Champagne flute or cocktail glass. Top with Champagne/sparkling wine and garnish with a lemon twist.

Naughty

With thanks to

Vanilla Martini
Highly regarded as an aphrodisiac and sexually arousing scent, the sweet, creamy characteristics of natural vanilla teasses and tempts the nose and the palate. Steeped in buttery Russian Standard vodka and intensified with layers of vanilla liqueur and syrup from Monin, it makes for a rich, voluptuous cocktail that quenches the most insatiable of thirsts.

Ingredients:
25ml vanilla-infused Russian Standard Vodka*
25ml Russian Standard Vodka
20ml Monin Vanilla Liqueur
10ml Monin Vanilla Syrup

Method:
Shake all ingredients thoroughly over ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Temptress

With thanks to 

Intense and intoxicating, smouldering and sensual this cocktail has post-coital written all over it. Using the deliciously superior ‘Brothers Blend’ of Merlet cognac and combining it with its natural partner, Merlet Triple Sec, we’ve added Perique Tobacco Liqueur along with the obligatory touch of lemon juice to give it that sexy, end of the night feel.

The Smokey Sidecar

Ingredients:
45ml Merlet Cognac
25ml Merlet Triple Sec
30ml Perique Tobacco Liqueur
15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
Garnish: Orange peel

Method:
Shake all ingredients together over ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Spritz the orange peel over the drink before dropping into the glass.

*To make vanilla-infused vodka: split two fresh vanilla pods and place into a kilner jar or bottle. Pour a bottle of Russian Standard vodka over the pods. Cover and leave to infuse for 7-10 days.

For more details on all featured brands, please visit:

Beefeater Gin: beefeatergin.com
Merlet: merlet.fr
Monin: monin.com
Perique Tobacco Liqueur: bestabsinthe.com
Russian Standard Vodka: russianstandardvodka.com