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
The Hugo Spritz, made with the beloved French St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur in replacement of a traditional Italian bitter or sour liqueur, was created by local bartender Roland Gruber. There were several iterations as Gruber searched for a liqueur to use that wasn’t bitter; one early iteration featured a lemon balm liqueur until in 2007 when…
We’re headed back to the well — the dry well, ahem — with a fresh look at three new offerings from Lyre’s, which is arguably the leader in non-alcoholic spirits. Two are full-bottle spirit surrogates, while the third is in a category of its own. Read on for the details. Lyre’s White Cane Spirit Review So……
Like so many stories, Atost was launched during the pandemic of 2020 by two California natives, Cindy and Kyle Pressman. Cindy’s grandparents, agave farmers migrated from Mexico to work in the citrus fields of California. The Pressmans wished to create a product that would celebrate their hometown of Ventura, California but also honor Cindy’s heritage…
If you have one brand of bitters in your home bar, it’s probably Angostura, and for good reason: It’s one of the most called-for name brand ingredients in all of cocktaildom, and its versatility is unmatched in the world of bittering agents. Angostura is named for the Angostura bark in its recipe, and it shows,…
The Best Orange Bitters Roundup – Regans’, Fee Brothers, The Bitter Truth, & Angostura (2025 Update)
After aromatic bitters, orange bitters are easily the most commonly called-for bittering agents in cocktails today. There’s also a huge variety of bitters available on the market. Are they any different? Which is best? I put four big bitters brands to the test to see which was best. Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6 – A…
Cantera Negra, which translates to “Black Quarry,” is led by Master Blender Don Alberto Becherano, who has over 40 years of experience making tequila. The brand sources their Blue Weber Agave from a remote region in central Mexico known for its volcanic rock, hence the name Cantera Negra. Cantera Negra makes all of its tequilas…
Chartreuse substitutes — all herbal and green — continue to explode in availability, the latest being Luxardo’s Del Santo. I’ve never heard of it, but the company says it’s been available in Italy “for decades,” but its arrival in the U.S. is new as of this year. The recipe is described as “a balanced blend…
The shortage (and price explosion) of Chartreuse has been well documented, and the ongoing problem has led cocktailcrafters to explore other alternatives that can provide a drink with an herbal pop and, ideally, a green hue. Here’s one option: Fontbonne Herbal Liqueur (also called Fontbonne 1874), which dates back 151 years and is only now…
Is it, perhaps, too easy to make a good coffee liqueur? The market is flooded with high-quality coffee liqueurs these days, each with more street cred and authenticity than the last. The latest on the market comes from Boston-based St. Elder, which got its start making an elderflower liqueur but which is increasingly misnamed thanks…
With the espresso martini reigning as the It Cocktail of the moment, there’s no harm in stretching your legs into other coffee-flavored libations. As one idea, why not give coffee bitters a try? McMann & Tate makes this product from a blend of medium roasted Arabica beans, cacao, and “a mix of flavorful spices, herbs,…