26093 Sat Oct 11 21:08:06 -0700 2003 6 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 105579 I would like to try Parfait Amour and Creme de Yvette, two liqueurs that are supposed to be made from violets. Parfait Amour is made by Marie Brizard, also spelled as Marie Brizzard. If anyone has tasted these liqueurs, can you tell me what they taste like, compared to Chambord or Grand Marnier? Any tips on where they can be found would be appreciated. Sat Oct 11 21:08:06 -0700 2003 0 Bay Gelldawg 1 1929424 Creme Yvette is a now mostly defunct violette liqeuer from france. Supposedly you may still find a bottle or two of recent production in small towns here and there in France, but it is no longer imported to the United States. The last I heard, most French stores cannot get it. Flavor profile is unclear, as most have never tried it. It is sometimes assumed that the cocktail the Aviation once had a measure of Creme Yvette, which would have given it an acutal blue color, making a tad more sense. Parfait Amour is widely availiable in the States. Flavor is that of violettes and orange. Like a flowery, sweeter cointreau. The color is violette, but it has an unpleasant tendency to turn most drinks it is added to a dish water grey. The flavor is quite strong, and I personally find it quite hard to mix with. Too much and that is all you taste, too little and you wind up with dirty bath water. Works well with margaritas and citrus/lemon, in my limited experience. About $20 U.S. As far as comparisons with chambord and grand marnier, there isn't really one. Chambord is more blackberry, currant, and cassis. Grand marnier is an oragne curacao with cognac. Parfait amour is about as sweet as chambord but less berry. Grand marnier has a bite to it due to the congnac. I would say cointreau is a closer match than grand ma. Sat Oct 07 05:45:56 -0700 2006 105579 43321 garcon 1 1929769 I know that Nizza la Bella in Albany has or at least had violet liqueur. Sat Oct 07 16:26:16 -0700 2006 105579 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 1929787 Yep, still have it. It is their signature drink and I always get it when I'm there. Of all places, 6 Degrees on Solano had it too. Both places do it right so the drink is a pretty purple and tastes lovely. Nizza is better though. Sat Oct 07 16:37:44 -0700 2006 1929769 10264 rworange 3 1930992 When I first tasted the Violet Hour at Nizza La Bella, I asked the bartender where I could find Parfait d'Amour - answer: Beverages & More. I now have a bottle at home, plus candied violets for garnish. Still need to stop swilling regular Hendrick's martinis long enough to concentrate on getting the right mix of gin, white vermouth & P d'A to make a Violet Hour. On its own, P d'A is tooth-achingly sweet... Sun Oct 08 15:34:34 -0700 2006 1929787 10218 RodW 4 2060365 You can also try Benoit serres Creme de Violette. I understand this is availiable in the states in some places. I've never seen it, but I hear it has less of the "toothachingly sweet" flavor that parfait d'amour has. It also lacks the orange component and has much more of a floral taste. Again, this is all heresay, but it comes from the highly informative egullet peeps in NY. Fri Dec 01 00:21:53 -0800 2006 1930992 43321 garcon 1 5135822 Hey Chow-Folks: Note that Creme Yvette is being re-introduced to the public after going defunct in the 60's. Found the announcement on Page 58-60 of October 2009 Gourmet. BUT, after searching all over the web, I can't seem to find where you can buy it. Are there any drink detectives who can find this new "juice?" Please publish the info here, if you find out. I'd love to buy some. The article mentions Varnish "a proto-speakeasy hidden at the back of the century old sandwich shop Cole's in LA." AND, who is Rob Cooper who is mentioned in the Gourmet piece. Wonder who produces the liqueur? LOL U sleuths out there! Tue Oct 27 17:00:54 -0700 2009 105579 1107996 4culiniarians