Liqueurs are a staple in the cocktail world and a key ingredient in many of our favourite cocktails. They are extremely versatile and can be used in mixed drinks, served neat, over ice, with coffee or mixed with other non-alcoholic beverages such as cream or milk. Many can be used for cooking or in baking and certain liqueurs have even become a welcome addition to the recipes for many desserts. But what are they exactly? In this third A Basic Guide To series we will take a look at liqueurs and just what exactly it is, and its different styles. 


What is Liqueur?


A liqueur is a distilled spirit that’s flavoured with some variation or form of herbs and spices, cream, fruit, flowers or nuts and finished with a sweetener such as corn syrup or sugar. In most cases, liqueurs are rather sweet, however, there are also some that are dry or tart. Unlike most alcoholic beverages, liqueurs are rarely aged, although some do receive a resting period to allow their flavour profiles to marry.

In the past, liqueurs were referred to as cordials, and many have a rich history that stretches back centuries. For example, popular herbal liqueurs—including Benedictine and Chartreuse—were originally created as remedies for various ailments, often by monks who specialized in alchemy. 

Let’s take a look at some of the more common liqueurs and see how they differ.




Types of Liqueur


Liqueurs have a wide range of flavours, which can vary from coffee to almond to orange. There are also cream liqueurs, like Baileys Irish Cream or Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, and crème liqueurs, which are much sweeter and likened to a potent syrup.

Grand Marnier is an example of an orange liqueur. Like most liqueurs, it is an ingredient in many classic cocktails (such as the Whiskey Daisy) and makes a flavourful addition to many cocktail recipes.

Other well-known liqueurs include Amaretto, Chambord, Cointreau, crème de cassis, crème de menthe, Kahlua, and a variety of flavourful schnapps, to name just a few. Some are brand names and use exclusive recipes, while others are made in a style with a signature flavour that is produced by different companies.

 


Cream Liqueur


An ever-growing category which stems from the popularity of Baileys. This type of liqueur includes dairy cream and generally a flavourful liquor as one of its ingredients. Try them neat, over ice or why not add some on top of ice cream. Be sure to note that with any liqueur that contains cream—like Baileys Irish Cream or Five Farms—make sure your cap or cork is tightly sealed and that it goes right in the fridge after being used to avoid the cream spoiling.


Cream Liqueurs we recommend: Sheridan's Coffee Layered Liqueur, Mozart White Chocolate Cream Strawberry, Amarula Vanilla Spice Cream Liqueur, Five Farms, Dooley's Toffee Cream Liqueur, and Coole Swan.


Whiskey Liqueur


Liqueurs based on whisky have been around for longer than you might think. In Scotland, the locals drank 'brose', a traditional drink based on whisky, honey, and oatmeal, for centuries. Most will be familiar with Drambuie, but there is a wide range of alternatives available. Irish Mist was the first Irish liqueur to achieve worldwide success, emulating the success of Drambuie in Scotland. Now there are many whiskey-based liqueurs all offering their own mix of herbs, honey, spice, and fruit flavours.


Whiskey Liqueurs we recommend: Muldoon Irish Whiskey Liqueur, The Whistler Irish Cream, The Dubliner Irish Whiskey Liqueur


Fruit Liqueur


In the early days of cocktail-making orange liqueurs emerged as the most popular ingredient and found its way into a vast array of cocktails and remains so even today. Cointreau remains one of the most famous liqueurs in the world. The most famous producer of fruit liqueurs is Bols, a Dutch company known for its jenever and gin. Cointreau and Triple Sec are key favourites for Cosmopolitans and Margaritas but there are many other fruit liqueurs worth trying in your favourite cocktails.


Fruit Liqueurs we recommend: Edinburgh Strawberry and Pink Peppercorn Gin Liqueur, Creme de Cassis de Dijon Gabriel Boudier, Stillgarden O’Maro Irish Amaro, The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters


Herb Liqueur


Herb Liqueur traces its roots back primarily to the monks of Europe, particularly Italian monks during the 13th Century, who developed the liqueur as a way to infuse herbs for medicinal use. Most readers might be familiar with Green Chartreuse with contains over 130 herbs and spices, and was developed by monks from the Carthusian order in the French Alps.

As the trade routes opened, a variety of other spices, herbs, and fruits made their way into liqueurs. Some were used for their anaesthetic qualities and used by women during childbirth, while others were used as a digestive aid. Over the years, they became fashionable and became the key ingredient in many cocktail recipes.


Herb Liqueurs we recommend: Ancho Reyes Ancho Chilli Liqueur, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto Liqueur, Licor 43 Orochata


Using Liqueurs in Cocktails


Liqueurs are a key ingredient in many cocktails, due to their ability to bring an amazing depth of flavour and complexity to a cocktail. They range from single-flavour liqueurs (like Peppermint Schnapps) to very complex ones (like Green Chartreuse) and give you a huge variety of flavours to play with – without having to keep a pantry full of fresh fruits, herbs, and spices.


If you’re adding liqueur to an existing recipe, be sure to adjust other sweeteners downward to adjust for the sweetness you’re adding to the liqueur. Similarly, liqueurs can increase alcohol content, so be sure to adjust your spirit downward a bit as well.



 

How to Drink Liqueur


While mixing liqueurs in cocktails is the most popular way to drink them, liqueurs are perfectly suitable to be served neat or on the rocks. Some of the best liqueurs to drink neat or on the rocks are Midori, Crème de Cassis, triple sec, sambuca, limoncello, and Chartreuse. 

 

Enjoy Responsibly


At the end of the day, liqueurs are extremely versatile and a welcome addition to any bartender’s range. Be sure to experiment with what works best for you and enjoy responsibly. 

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