Liqueurs are a great way to add flavor and variety to your cocktails. They can be used in all sorts of ways, from adding sweetness and depth to desserts, cooking sauces or soups, making an after-dinner drink with dessert wine or adding some complexity to the cocktail you're mixing for your guests.
Liqueurs come in many different flavors but they are usually made up of simple flavors that have been distilled together. There are three main types of liqueurs; fruit liqueur, cream liqueur and herbaceous liqueur, each with their own distinct characteristics. Fruit based liqueurs like strawberry liqueur or passionfruit liqueur are made by infusing the fruit with alcohol, sugar and water for a few days before distilling it. Lighter flavored fruits like raspberries or strawberries can be used to make beverages that are less sweet than regular distilled spirits because more flavor is left behind in the resulting liquid. Darker fruits like blueberries, cherries or plums will produce richer flavors that taste delicious on their own as an after-dinner drink but also work well mixed into cocktails where they contribute sweetness along with depth from some tannins picked up through the maceration process. Cream liqueurs are similar to fruit liqueur except milk or cream has been added during filtration so these have more of a creamy taste.
Coffee flavored liqueurs are quite popular and include the Irish cream drink Kahlua, Tia Maria and Frangelico. Whisky flavored liqueurs like Drambuie are good for cocktails because they bring whisky flavor to the mix but also work well served on their own with ice or mixed into chocolates as a dessert if you want something rich tasting. Another popular option is creme de menthe which has its origins in Italy where it was originally made using peppermint leaves. This can be sipped over ice after dinner or used in chocolate dishes that require minty flavors. Whatever the flavor, these tropical liqueurs are certainly something else, and a great addition to your home bar.
