What is a liqueur?

What is a liqueur? - Clear Wine Glass With Lemon Juice

I was sitting in a hotel bar sipping cocktails with friends last night, and as one of the less well-versed of us was casting an eye over the cocktail list, he idly asked "is vermouth a liqueur?".

"Of course not", i snorted; "it's an aromatic wine.".

A look of puzzlement creased his face. "Why? What's the difference?".

"Well", i eagerly explained, "a liqueur is a base alcoholic liquid to which has been added strong flavourings, for example bitter herbs, and enough sugar to make it quite sweet. Whereas vermouth is ...".

My words tailed off into my Sazerac, and i changed the subject.

So, what is a liqueur? Why do we consider some flavoured, sweetened alcoholic liquids to be liqueurs, and not others? Why is Chartreuse a liqueur, but not vermouth? Why is Absolut Citron a vodka, but limoncello a liqueur? What about the Italian amari, like Campari, Cynar, Ramazotti, Aperol and so on?

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Best Answer

Liqueur is essentially a flavoured distilled spirit, with the important distinction of added sugar. Vermouth is not distilled, which is why it's referred to as a fortified wine. Flavoured vodkas usually have no added sugar, and so are not classed as liqueurs. Campari uses both distilled alcohol and sugar, and so is a liqueur.

Have a flow chart: enter image description here

And a Venn diagram, including flavour:

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Pictures about "What is a liqueur?"

What is a liqueur? - Photo Of Person Pouring Liqueur On Wine Glass
What is a liqueur? - Transparent clean glasses filled with similar red cocktail with rosemary and berries on black background
What is a liqueur? - Top view of glass of cold blackberry margarita with berries and ice cubes near stainless shaker on white background


What is considered a liqueur?

Technically, liqueurs are liquor because they are distilled spirits. The general difference is that liqueurs are sweetened spirits with various flavors, oils, and extracts added; rum, whiskey, brandy, and other liquors can serve as a base spirit for liqueurs.

What is the difference between a liquor and a liqueur?

Alcohol content: Both liqueurs and liquors have a range of alcohol content. Most liquor is in the 40 to 55 percent range of Alcohol by Volume (ABV), or 80 to 110 proof. Liqueurs typically contain more ingredients, so the alcohol content is generally lower, from 15 to 30 percent ABV or 30 to 60 proof.

What is an example of a liqueur?

The 8 Types of Liqueurs You Need to Know by Heart
  • \u2460 Amaretto. ...
  • \u2461 Baileys Irish Cream. ...
  • \u2463 Cointreau. ...
  • \u2464 Frangelico. ...
  • \u2465 Kahl\xfaa. ...
  • \u2466 St-Germain. ...
  • \u2467 Sambuca.


Can liqueur get you drunk?

Liqueur can be drunk on its own, but most often it is used to complement the ingredients in a cocktail. Different from what we normally think of as \u201cliquor\u201d (like gin, vodka, whiskey, or rum), liqueur has been sweetened with fruits and infused with different herbs and spices.


What's the Difference Between Liquor \u0026 Liqueur? | Drinktionary



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