Vieux Mot

The Vieux Mot is a forgotten pre-Prohibition classic experiencing a well-deserved renaissance in craft cocktail bars. The drink's name means "old word" in French, though its exact origins remain mysterious. The Vieux Mot appeared in Harry Craddock's legendary "The Savoy Cocktail Book" (1930), suggesting it was created during the golden age of cocktails in the 1920s. This elegant gin-based cocktail combines gin, St-Germain elderflower liqueur (or originally crème de violette), lemon juice, and simple syrup, shaken and served up. The drink represents the sophisticated floral cocktails popular in pre-Prohibition and post-Prohibition era European bars. The elderflower liqueur adds delicate floral sweetness that complements gin's botanicals without overwhelming them. The Vieux Mot showcases how simple variations on basic templates (in this case, a gin sour with floral liqueur) can create distinctly memorable cocktails. The drink's obscurity until recent years demonstrates how many excellent pre-Prohibition cocktails were lost during Prohibition and the subsequent dark age of American cocktails. The craft cocktail renaissance of the 2000s rediscovered the Vieux Mot, and bartenders recognized its elegant balance and sophisticated flavor profile. The cocktail has become a favorite among gin enthusiasts and those who appreciate floral, aromatic drinks. The Vieux Mot works particularly well with floral or citrus-forward gins that complement the elderflower. The drink embodies the lost art of pre-Prohibition mixology, the European influence on classic cocktails, and the ongoing process of rediscovering forgotten classics. It represents cocktail history's depth—for every famous Martini or Manhattan, dozens of equally excellent drinks like the Vieux Mot waited for rediscovery. The Vieux Mot proves that classic cocktails still have surprises and that old recipes can feel fresh and modern when executed with quality ingredients.