Liqueurs
Liqueurs represent a vast and variable category of alcoholic spirits, distinguished by the fact that they are flavored with, well, almost anything. Fruit-flavored liqueurs like triple sec are well-known to most drinkers, but there are also cocoa-flavored liqueurs (creme de cacao), cream-infused liqueurs (Baileys, et al.), coffee-flavored liqueurs (Kahlua), whiskey-flavored liqueurs (Drambuie, et al.), and nut-flavored liqueurs (Frangelico, and many more). Bitter, herbal liqueurs represent a huge category of this segment, with amari being a specific sub-category of bittersweet liqueurs that has a devout following. (It’s also a separate category of coverage here at Drinkhacker.) Many of these herbal liqueurs are derived from ancient medicinal recipes. Liqueurs can vary wildly in alcoholic content and can be consumed neat, on the rocks, or — most commonly — as a component in any number of cocktails.
Top Liqueurs Posts:
A Brief History of Orange Flavored Liqueurs
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Drambuie 15 Liqueur
With non-alcoholic spirits on the rise, the aperitif space has of late taken center stage as one of the most promising sectors for exploration. We’ve encountered NA amari that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing, so we had high hopes going into this two-fer review of Lyre’s spin on the category. Reviewed herein: One…
Pentire is a UK-based brand of non-alcoholic spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails, and we open our coverage of the brand with this NA amaro, a hearty concoction made from “naturally distilled coastal botanicals carefully blended with Blood Orange, Sea Rosemary and Oakwood.” The idea, as the name of the product suggests, is to evoke the sea……
Non-alcoholic amari are on the rise, and Lapo’s — a brand inspired by Italy but based in Atlanta — is the latest to enter the fray. Lapo’s focuses on non-alcoholic options built around designing a boozeless version of the classic Campari and its iconic Negroni cocktail. The brand offers both a straight version of its…
What is the difference between a non-alcoholic liqueur and a syrup? Giffard‘s new line of Alcohol Free liqueurs are distinguished by their use of the shrub technique to craft them: fruits and herbs are not laced with alcohol but rather macerated in wine vinegar as a replacement for booze — a production process that reportedly…
Say, do you like licorice? Finland-born Valhalla is the Scandi Jagermeister you never knew you needed. The coffee-black liqueur is made with Nordic ingredients including angelica, wormwood, yarrow, and licorice — lots of licorice. Four species of licorice plants, to be exact. Valhalla Herbal Liqueur Shot Review Designed to be consumed cold, as a shot,…
The story of Lo-Fi Aperitifs begins in California, where regionally appropriate botanicals are sourced to create various vermouths and an amaro. All of them use wine for the base — even the amaro — which keeps things light and lively, with abv kept in check. While we previous looked at Lo-Fi’s Sweet Vermouth in our…
St. Lucia Distillers is known for its rums, but the distillery also cranks out a number of related products, including a new line of rum creams — essentially your Irish cream formula, minus whiskey, plus rum, plus a variety of flavorings. Four products are currently on the market, and we tasted them all. Let’s check…
New York’s Pollinator Spirits is the company behind Crimson Amaro, a Campari-like offering that is made entirely with ingredients grown in the state. The product starts with Pollinator’s own vodka — made from local corn and wildflower honey (hence “Pollinator”), and infused with a “secret blend of more than 15 botanicals, among them juniper, wormwood,…
Want to give your margarita or sidecar a little spin? Try a triple sec that’s a bit different — based on yuzu instead of orange. This new, limited edition offering comes courtesy of Maison Ferrand and longtime partner David Wondrich, whose Dry Curacao is a high-end bar staple. Here are all the particulars: “We wanted…
Saint Brendan’s is one of the least expensive Baileys Irish Cream alternatives, and for a while there it was impressively authentic, made with just Irish whiskey and cream. Alas, things have changed for the old Saint. The standard bottling is made with Irish whiskey, cream, and “other spirits.” And in this new line extension,…