Echo Spirits’ Elusive Is a New Take on an Ancient Green Liqueur

Echo Spirits Elusive Herbal Liqueur’s reimagined approach to honoring tradition nets a Double Gold (score 97) at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Echo Spirits, an Ohio-based distillery producing spirits worth remembering, is proud to share with professional and consumer bartenders alike its Elusive Herbal Liqueur. Drawing inspiration from a centuries-old French herbal liqueur, Elusive is a new take on one of the most closely guarded and highly revered botanical-infused spirits ever produced.

Crafted from over 25 botanicals, citrus peels, herbs, and spices, Elusive was born out of necessity approximately three years ago by Echo Spirits’ Derek Reno.

As the Beverage Director for The Bar at Echo Spirits, Reno recognized the bar world’s overwhelming demand for a classic green European herbal liqueur. With the original spirit facing persistent shortages due to strict monastic production limits, he felt inspired to create his own.

“Nothing matters more than the ingredients and the process,” said Reno. “From foraged botanicals to seasonal components, every factor mattered. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘listening’ to the spirit along the way and where it informed me to go.”

Elusive was developed by Reno to be versatile, but always meant to bring to mind the notable elixir it is modeled after. A harmonious profile makes it perfect for a range of quality craft cocktails, such as the Last Word, his real inspiration for this entire project. It is equally enjoyable as a stand-alone tasting experience, offering bright herbal notes and citrus peel on the nose. This leads into a palate of verdant botanicals, citrus oil, and warm baking spices, before rounding out into a finish that is clean, lightly bitter, and lingering.

“The team was certainly inspired by a certain hard-to-get liqueur,” said Joe Bidinger, Founder & CEO, Echo Spirits, “but Elusive became so much more. It works in the cocktails intended for that spirit, but has an even stronger range and depth. And the thing that perhaps surprised me the most is how easy it is to drink on its own.”

In a nod to the creativity of this spirit, the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition awarded it a Double Gold (score 97) in the Herbal/Botanical Liqueur category.

Echo Spirits Elusive Herbal Liqueur, bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), is priced at $59 per 750 ml bottle. It is available directly from the distillery, retail partners in Ohio, and online through the Echo Spirits website.

ABOUT ECHO SPIRITS

Echo Spirits is a distillery built with a purpose, a vision of two guys who didn’t quit their daydream as they looked for a new creative outlet to offset their highly analytical jobs. Located in the Grandview neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, the first drops of spirit came off the stills here in 2019, and there has been no looking back since. Known as Ohio’s rum and whiskey distillery, Echo Spirits’ success is reflected not just in its multiple award-winning offerings but also in the loyalty of its customers. A place and a mindset here lead to a commitment to quality reflected not only in the premium spirits but also in the full cocktail bar onsite, showcasing their products in the way they are meant to be seen and enjoyed.