The French Chilli Liqueur.
Giffard offers a wide range of liqueurs but this particular example is deliciously unique. Piment d’Espelette would be a welcome addition to any comprehensive bar stock. It’s full of character and it packs a flavour punch which allows for some mixology innovation.
The Espelette pepper is called Ezpeletako biperra in the local Basque language. It originated in Central and South America, as all chillies do, but was brought to France during the 16th and 17th centuries, and took hold in this area where it has become so celebrated. Piment d’Espelette is the only French spice with APO / DPO recognition, and its cultivation is limited to ten villages in the Basque region.
The peppers are harvested in late summer, with garlands of red chillies being hung from balconies and other vantage points from September. The town of Espelette attracts throngs of tourists throughout the year, but especially in October when a Piment d’Espelette festival is held. It’s a wonderful place to taste and buy these zesty chillies in every guise.
But you don’t have to travel far to enjoy this piquant pepper. Giffard offers their liqueur conveniently from your home bar. It’s made with a base of aged rhum agricole from Martinique in which the peppers are macerated. The green stalks of the peppers are included in the maceration to add a grassy note to the final product.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Clear amber
Nose: Cut grass and chilli to the fore
Palate: Chilli, vanilla, grass and a balanced sweetness and warming spice
Finish: long and warming
Piment d’Espelette from Giffard is a winner. It works perfectly with chocolate-based cocktails and elevates your traditional Margarita. The perfect gift for any enthusiastic mixologist.