Izarra (liqueur) facts for kids
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| Type | Liqueur |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Groupe Vedrenne |
| Country of origin | Northern Basque Country, France |
| Introduced | 1904 |
| Proof (US) | 40-48 |
| Colour | yellow & green |
| Variants | Yellow Izarra, Green Izarra |
Izarra is a special drink that means "star" in the Basque language. It's a type of liqueur that was first made in 1906. A scientist named Joseph Grattau created it in a place called Hendaye, which is in the beautiful Basque Country.
Izarra is made from many different plants and spices. It also uses soaked prunes and walnut husks. These ingredients are heated in a special copper pot. Then, they are mixed with a type of brandy called armagnac. This follows an old recipe.
Izarra is a well-known symbol of the Basque Country. Over the years, different companies have owned it. Since 2018, the Vedrenne group has helped share it with the world.
Contents
Types of Izarra: Green and Yellow
Izarra can be enjoyed in different ways, like in mixed drinks or on its own. Famous people like Ernest Hemingway and Nikita Khrushchev have even tried it!
There are two main kinds of Izarra:
- Green Izarra (called Izarra Berdea in Basque and Izarra Vert in French): This type is made with 17 different plants. Some of these include nutmeg, coriander, fennel, and peppermint. It also has elderflower, wild thyme, and green walnuts.
- Yellow Izarra (called Izarra Horia in Basque and Izarra Jaune in French): This version has honey added to it. The honey is mixed in after the plants and spices have been soaked in alcohol and armagnac.
How Izarra is Made
The idea for Izarra came from a very old recipe from 1835. Joseph Grattau found this recipe when he started his business.
In 2019, the recipe was updated. They added more plants and used less sugar. This helped bring back the original taste.
Both Green and Yellow Izarra start with the same ten plants and spices. These are distilled in a copper pot. Only the best part of this liquid is kept. This liquid is then mixed with walnuts and prunes that have been soaking for months.
For Green Izarra, a special maker adds armagnac and a little sugar. This creates the drink once known as "sunshine in a glass." For Yellow Izarra, honey is added at the end, after all the mixing.
The Story of Izarra
Izarra has a long and interesting history:
- 1906: Joseph Grattau created the "Izarra Fine-Hendaye" liqueur. He made it in Hendaye, in the Basque Country.
- 1907: A famous pelota player, Chiquito, gave a bottle of Izarra to King Edward VII of England. This happened when the King visited Sare.
- 1909: Izarra became very popular. Advertisements for it appeared on houses and posters in Biarritz and Bayonne.
- 1912: Because it was so successful, Izarra built a large factory in Bayonne. It was located right by the Adour river.
- 1926: Izarra was even mentioned in a book! It appeared in Ernest Hemingway’s first novel, The Sun Also Rises.
- 1929: A new mixed drink called "Et moi je te dis…Maud" won an award in Paris. This drink featured Izarra.
- 1934: When Izarra came to the United States, a famous poster artist named Zulla created a well-known Izarra poster.
- 1950s: Izarra became a symbol of the Basque Country. It sponsored many events, like ski races and traditional festivals.
- 1950: The artist Paul Colin designed Izarra’s most famous advertisement. People saw it all over the world.
- 1955: Izarra bought another company called "La Liqueur d’Hendaye."
- 1960: Nikita Khrushchev, a leader from the USSR, tried Izarra. This happened at a dinner in France during the Cold War.
- 1960s: Izarra grew a lot! They opened factories in Mexico, Argentina, and other countries. They sold over 1.2 million bottles.
- 1981: The Grattau family sold Izarra to a company called Cointreau.
- 1998: The old factory in Bayonne was closed. Izarra was then made at Cointreau’s main factory.
- 2011: The Rémy Cointreau group brought the brand back. Izarra's main office returned to Bayonne.
- 2015: A company called Spirited Brands bought Izarra.
- 2018: The Vedrenne group started distributing Izarra.
Izarra in Mixed Drinks
Some of France's best drink makers have created special mixed drinks using Izarra. Here are a few popular ones:
- The Basque Mojito: This is a new version of the classic Mojito. It uses green Izarra instead of rum, which gives it a fresh taste.
- The Lemon Izarra: This drink mixes green Izarra with Lemon Schweppes or Kas Citron over ice. It's very fresh, fruity, and perfect for summer.
- The Emerald Coast: This mixed drink combines gin, armagnac, and Izarra.
Since 2018, more new mixed drinks have been created:
- Tik'Izarra: Made with green Izarra, orgeat syrup, pineapple juice, and lemon juice.
- Basquiano: Uses yellow Izarra, red Vermouth, Salers, and sparkling water.
- Iza Gorria: Combines yellow Izarra, VEDRENNE Supercassis, and tonic water.
- Beko: Made with green Izarra, Gascogne rosé, and tonic water.
