The Intoxicologist Is In

Sometimes when I pour over new and old cocktail recipe books I run across liqueurs I have never heard of.  In an effort to sort out what the different liqueurs are, I decided to break down the list.  In the future this list will grow in an effort to keep up with the growing liquor industry as well. 

While I strive to find as many liquors and liqueurs as possible out on the shelves and through the internet, there is no way possible I could have come up with this list on my own.  I refer often to many of my books and online references.  Please check out Gary Regan’s book The Joy of Mixology the Consummate Guide to the Bartender’s Craft available in bookstores and online. 

• Absente – dry French absinthe substitute
• Absinthe – spirit with anise flavor banned in the United States in 1912
• Absinthe Substitute – spirits with an anise flavor used in place of absinthe (Absente, Herbsaint, La Muse Verte, Pernod, and Ricard)
• Abricotine – apricot flavored liqueur from France
• Advocaat – brandy based liqueur made with eggs, vanilla and other flavorings
• Alize – passion-fruit flavored liqueur from France
• Alize Red Passion – passion-fruit and cranberry flavored liqueur from France
• Amaretto – almond flavored liqueur primarily from Italy (Disaronno)
• Amer Picon – French aperitif with hints of orange and a bitter herbal backdrop
• Anisette – anise flavored liqueur
• Applejack –  versatile spirit made from a blend of distilled cider, neutral spirits and “apple wine” which is derived from hard cider and apple brandy
• Apricot Brandy – apricot flavored liqueur
• Apry – French apricot flavored liqueur
• Armagnac – French brandy distilled from a fermented mash of grapes
• Aurum – orange flavored liqueur from Italy
• B & B – Benedictine and cognac
• Bailey’s Irish Cream – cream based liqueur flavored with Irish whiskey
• Benedictine – French herbal liqueur
• Blackberry Brandy – blackberry flavored liqueur
• Blue Curacao – blue colored, orange flavored liqueur the equivalent to triple sec, but often sweeter
• Campari – Italian form of bitters that falls within the technical category of liqueurs
• Chambord – black-raspberry flavored liqueur from France
• Chartreuse – herbal liqueur from France available in green and yellow (sweeter version)
• Cheri Suisse – chocolate and cherry flavored liqueur from Switzerland
• Cherry Brandy – cherry flavored liqueur
• Cherry Heering – cherry flavored liqueur from Denmark
• Cherry Marnier – cherry flavored, cognac based liqueur from France
• Cointreau – high end triple sec from France
• Crème De Ananas – pineapple flavored liqueur
• Crème De Banane – banana flavored liqueur
• Crème De Cacao – chocolate flavored liqueur available in clear and dark
• Crème De Cassis – black currant flavored liqueur
• Crème De Menthe – mint flavored liqueur available in white and green
• Crème De Noyau – almond flavored liqueur
• Crème Yvette – violet flavored liqueur
• Cuarenta y Tres – Spanish herbal liqueur with hints of vanilla
• Curacao – orange liqueur similar to triple sec, but often sweeter
• Danziger Goldwasser – aniseed and caraway flavored liqueur flecked with gold flakes from Germany
• Drambuie – scotch based herbal liqueur with hints of honey
• Dubonnet – wine based, similar to vermouth, available in red and white
• Forbidden Fruit – American brandy based fruit flavored liqueur
• Framboise – raspberry flavored liqueur made from the mash of fermented raspberries
• Frangelico – hazelnut flavored Italian liqueur
• Galliano – Italian liqueur with hints of vanilla and orange
• Glayva – scotch based herbal honey liqueur
• Grand Marnier – cognac based orange flavored liqueur from France
• Herbsaint – absinth substitute from New Orleans
• Irish Mist – Irish whiskey based liqueur with hints of herb and honey
• Izarra – brandy based herbal liqueur from France available in green and yellow
• Jagermeister – German herbal liqueur with a medicinal flavor, slightly licorice
• Kahlua – coffee flavored liqueur from Mexico
• Kirsch – un-aged fruit brandy made from the fermented mash of cherries
• Kummel – caraway flavored herbal liqueur primarily from Holland or Germany
• La Muse Verte – French absinthe substitute
• Limoncello – Italian liqueur flavored with lemon zest (Massa & Giori)
• Madeira – fortified wine from the island of Madeira
• Malibu – rum based, coconut flavored liqueur
• Mandarine Napoleon – cognac based, tangerine flavored French liqueur
• Maraschino – European liqueur flavored with whole Dalmation marasca cherries
• Marc – French un-aged fruit brandy
• Metaxa – Greek brandy mixed with aged Muscat wine, botanicals and aged in oak casks
• Mezcal –Mexican distillate from fermented agave
• Midori – melon flavored liqueur
• Ouzo – Greek anise flavored liqueur
• Peach Brandy – peach flavored liqueur
• Peach Schnapps – peach flavored liqueur, usually drier than peach brandy
• Peppermint Schnapps – peppermint flavored liqueur, usually drier than crème de menthe
• Pernod – French absinthe substitute
• Pisco Brandy – Peruvian grape brandy often made in other South American country
• Ricard – French absinthe substitute
• Rock and Rye – whiskey based liqueur flavored with fruit juices and horehound (herbal plant)
• Sambuca – anise based Italian liqueur available in white and black
• Southern Comfort – fruit-flavored liqueur
• Strawberry Brandy – strawberry flavored liqueur
• Strega – Italian herbal liqueur
• Tia Maria – rum based, coffee flavored liqueur
• Triple Sec – orange flavored liqueur (Cointreau, Van Gogh O’Magnifique)
• Tuaca – herbal liqueur with hints of vanilla and slight undertones of orange
• Vermouth – aromatized wine fortified with the addition of brandy available in sweet (red) and dry (white)

Coming soon….carbohydrate counts to as many liqueurs and liquors as possible as well additions to the list as they are available.  If you have liqueurs you would like to see on this list, please email me at str8up@cox.net.  I would be pleased to hear from you and will research the liqueur to find out what is in it and the carb count as well.  I will be making this post available in the “Pages” content in the right hand column and updating it as well. 

Thank you for your patience!