When you think of liqueurs (lih-KYOOR), cordials (CORE-jull) , crèmes, and schnapps just know that it’s going to be a very sweet flavorful spirit. Actually, the spirit part is usually very low, but the high flavor really helps enhance a cocktail. Liqueurs come in every flavor imaginable. Some cordials are non-alcoholic like Rose's Lime Juice/cordial. Always keep in mind that for every brand name liqueur there is also another less expensive copycat version of it on the market.

Europeans drink shots of Limoncello, minted schnapps, Grappa, and anise liqueurs. Today, after dinner drinks tend to be either creamy, hot, or a neat measure of spirit. Nightcaps can be a hot drink or a single sprit that is sipped to make you feel warm and cozy inside. If you like the taste of anise/licorce (pastis) then there are many other choices for you: Galliano, anisette, Pernod, Ouzo, Sambuca, Pastis, Ricard, or absinthe. The most intriguing over the years has been absinthe (AB-sinth). This pastis contained wormwood, which caused slight hallucinations earning it the nickname, The Green Fairy (La Fée Verte). Absinthe originated in Switzerland and legend says that the inventor was Dr. Pierre Ordinaire.

By 1898, Absinthe was banned in Brazil. Others that followed were: Belgium, 1906; Holland, 1908; Switzerland, 1910; USA, 1912; France, 1912. Recently, due to its re-legalization, many producers use clever marketing, extravagant claims, and flashy and hip labels to sell their less than worthy imitations. I’m sure they figure that the general public doesn’t know what real absinthe is (or was) like that they can get away with it. There is one white hope though, a life-long New Orleans absinthe historian, who happens to be a chemist and environmental microbiologist, named Ted Breaux, has cracked the Absinth code. He has re-created the Absinthe one could have found over 100 years ago. It isn’t made in America (the US government doesn’t allow it to be distributed, yet), so Breaux makes it in France. He named it Jade Absinthe and you can find it a www.vintageabsinthe.com.

 

Popular Liqueurs and their flavors


Absinthe (AB-sinth); Anise/licorice.
Advocaat (ad-vo-KAHT); egg nog.
Amaretto; Almond.
Annisette (ANN-eh-set); Anise/licorice.
Blue Curacao; (CURE-uh-sow, sow rhymes with cow) Orange.
Chambord (Sham-BOARD) Black raspberry.
Coffee liqueur; Chocolate coffee.
Cointreau (KWAHN-troh) Orange.
Crème de banana; banana.
crème de cocoa (ca-KAY-o, ca KAH-o); Chocolate. Comes in dark/brown and white/clear.
Crème de cassis (ca-CEASE) black currant.
Crème de menthe; Mint.Comes in green and white/clear.
Crème de noyeaux (noy-YOH); Almond.
Drambuie (dram-BOO-ee) Honey, Scotch whisky and herbs.
Frangelico Hazelnut.
Galliano (gall-LEEYAH-no); Anise, herbs, and spices.
Goldschlager; Cinnamon.
Grand Marnier (marn-YAY); Orange cognac.
Irish cream; Irish whiskey, chocolate, coffee, vanilla and cream.
Licor 43; Citrus vanilla.
Limoncello; Sweet lemon.
Midori (mi-DOOR-ee) Honeydew melon.
Pernod (purr-NO) Licorice/anise.
Parfait Amour (par-fay uh-MORE); Roses, violets, vanilla, and spices.
Passoã (pass-SO-a) Passion fruit.
Rumple Minze (ROOM-pull MINTS); Peppermint.
Sambuca; Licorice/anise.
Sloe gin; Sloeberries.
Southern Comfort; Peach apricot honey.
Tequila Rose; Strawberry tequila cream.
Triple sec; Orange.
Tuaca (tuh-WAH-kuh); Vanilla orange caramel brandy.

 

Bailey's Irish Cream Midori
Jagermeister Cointreau
Pernod Grand Marnier
Tuaca Tia Maria
Becherovka Southern Comfort
Passoa Kahlua
DuKuper Liqueurs Sloe Gin
Amaretto Disaronno Ouzo
Chartruese    

Misc. Cordial & Liqueur Stuff

Homemade Kahlua Midori Coconut Cake
Deena's Homemade Irish Cream Cordial Recipes
Deena's Homemade Kahlua Make your own Liqueurs
The Art that is Liqueurs Liqueur Flavoring Chart
Goldschlager Jello Shots Liqueur Drinks

Cordial & Liqueur Books