Giffard Creme de Violette 750ML

Giffard Creme de Violette 750ML is a French violet liqueur bottled at 16% ABV (32 proof), produced in the Loire Valley by Maison Giffard. Rated 4.5 stars by Difford's Guide, this expression stands apart from most violet liqueurs through a dual-extraction process that captures both the delicate sweetness of violet petals and the aromatic complexity of the leaves.

Quick Facts: ABV: 16% (32 Proof)  |  Origin: Loire Valley, France  |  Violet Flower Liqueur  |  Distillery: Giffard

Production & Heritage

Maison Giffard was founded in 1885 in Angers, in the heart of France's Loire Valley, by Emile Giffard — a pharmacist who pioneered the brand's flagship Menthe Pastille before expanding into a full portfolio of fruit and botanical liqueurs. The Creme de Violette is produced using a distinctive two-step method: whole violet flowers are separated into petals and leaves, with the petals undergoing maceration to extract their fragrant sweetness and the leaves processed through non-alcoholic steam distillation to draw out deeper herbal and aromatic compounds. These two extracts are then blended, yielding a liqueur that delivers violet's full flavor spectrum rather than a one-dimensional floral sweetness. The approach reflects Giffard's broader philosophy of using natural botanicals and fruit without artificial colorants or flavoring shortcuts.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A potent, layered bouquet opens with fresh violet and rose, followed by subtle undertones of lavender and mint. There is a clean, almost garden-like quality — closer to real flowers than candy or perfume.

Taste: The entry is soft and velvety, with an immediate impression of pure violet that reads as unmistakably floral rather than artificially sweet. At mid-palate, a gentle acidity lifts the sweetness, and secondary notes of rose petal, light vanilla, and green herbal complexity emerge from the leaf distillation. The balance between sugar and botanical bitterness keeps it from becoming cloying.

Finish: Medium in length with a clean, lightly floral fade. Lingering violet and a faint, pleasant dryness round out the experience, leaving just enough impression to complement a cocktail rather than overpower it.

How to Drink Giffard Creme de Violette

This liqueur is rarely served neat due to its 16% ABV; it functions primarily as a cocktail modifier measured in small pours. Chilled, a half-ounce sip reveals the full tasting profile, but the bottle earns its place behind the bar as a precision ingredient.

• Aviation: The classic use — a barspoon or quarter-ounce added to gin, maraschino, and lemon juice creates the cocktail's signature pale lavender hue and floral backbone.
• Water Lily: Paired with gin, Cointreau, and lemon juice, the violet adds a delicate floral counterpoint to citrus and orange peel.
• Blue Moon: Combined with gin and fresh lemon juice, the liqueur takes center stage, making the dual-extraction depth especially noticeable.

Best For

• Home bartenders building a complete cocktail liqueur collection
• Mixing a properly balanced Aviation for the first time
• Gifting to a cocktail enthusiast who values authentic, natural ingredients
• Craft bar programs seeking a floral modifier with real botanical complexity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Giffard Creme de Violette taste like? It delivers a smooth, velvety violet flavor with supporting notes of rose, lavender, and a hint of vanilla, balanced by light acidity that prevents excessive sweetness.

How does Giffard Creme de Violette compare to Rothman & Winter Creme de Violette? Rothman & Winter is generally described as more intensely aromatic with a pronounced violet-candy character, while Giffard reads as more balanced and nuanced due to its dual-extraction process involving both petals and leaves. Many bartenders prefer Giffard for cocktails where subtlety and complexity matter, whereas Rothman & Winter can deliver a bolder violet punch.

Is Giffard Creme de Violette good for cocktails? It is specifically designed as a cocktail ingredient and is widely regarded as one of the best violet liqueurs for mixed drinks, particularly the Aviation, where its balanced sweetness and natural floral character integrate cleanly with gin and citrus.

Where is Giffard Creme de Violette made? It is produced by Maison Giffard at their facility in Angers, located in the Loire Valley region of western France, where the company has operated since 1885.

What foods pair well with Giffard Creme de Violette? Dark chocolate truffles complement the floral sweetness without overwhelming it. Lemon tarts create a citrus-floral interplay similar to the Aviation. Fresh berries — particularly raspberries and blackberries — echo the liqueur's fruit-adjacent florals. Soft, mild cheeses like fresh chèvre provide a creamy counterbalance. Lavender shortbread or violet macarons reinforce the botanical theme for a dessert pairing.

What sizes does Giffard Creme de Violette come in? The standard and most widely available size is the 750ml bottle.

Is Giffard Creme de Violette worth the price? It positions in the mid-range for specialty cocktail liqueurs and represents strong value given its natural production method and dual-extraction technique, which is more labor-intensive than the single-infusion approach used by most competitors.

Why Giffard Creme de Violette?

The defining advantage of this bottling is Giffard's two-step extraction — infusing violet petals for sweetness and separately steam-distilling the leaves for aromatic depth — a process that captures a broader flavor spectrum than petal infusion alone. With a 4.5-star rating from Difford's Guide, it has earned critical recognition as one of the most authentic and well-balanced violet liqueurs available. For anyone mixing an Aviation or exploring floral cocktails, this is the bottle that delivers real botanical character without tipping into perfume or candy territory. Backed by over 135 years of liqueur production in the Loire Valley, Giffard brings genuine heritage and technical expertise to a category where shortcuts are common.