Tragic news for the bartending community — Robert J. Cooper, the creator of the elderflower liqueur St. Germain, passed away on Monday, April 25. He was 39 years old.

Cooper introduced St. Germain in 2007, and its timing could not have been better. It was the beginning of a sea change in the bartending world, often referred to as the “cocktail renaissance,” where bartenders were discovering and embracing old, pre-Prohibition drinks, reviving classic ingredients, and developing new inventive recipes. St. Germain, in its beautiful ornate art-deco bottle, was an immediate hit, becoming so ubiquitous that it was referred to as the “bartender’s ketchup.” The sweet, delicate floral flavors blend amazingly with everything from gin to bourbon to sparkling wine to rum.

Cooper went on to develop Creme de Yvette, reintroducing the cocktail world to violet liqueurs. You can celebrate both his and Prince’s lives with an Aviation Cocktail using Creme de Yvette. Cooper is survived by his wife Kaitrine and their children, William and Charlotte. 

Photo via The Drink Nation