Cordials and Liqueurs Page

In European countries liqueurs have long been savored as after-dinner drinks, bringing a delightful end to a leisurely repast. In the U.S., perhaps because Americans seem to do everything at a breakneck pace, lingering over a liqueur straight up is not quite the tradition it is in Europe. Americans have always tended to enjoy liqueurs mixed with other ingredients, evidenced by the popularity of classic cocktails such as the Grasshopper and the Pink Squirrel. Hot drinks also often get their kicks from liqueurs--you'll find a whole section of tummy-warmers later.

Americans inevitably put their own spin on things and are quick to launch or latch on to trends. Schnapps, derived from the German word meaning gulp or mouthful, took the country by storm in the mid-1980s and was produced in virtually every flavor you could imagine--and some you'd never think of! The Fuzzy Navel, born during the schnapps phenomenon, remains an oft-requested drink.

Today, while still sipped and savored on their own, liqueurs are most often used in a variety of frozen and ice cream based drinks (there's a section on these coolers later) and the newest sensation to rock the nation--shooters (Hah! There's even a section on these later). Romantic occasions call for the eponymous amaretto of love--Amaretto di Amore--the ideal spirit of sharing. Feeling hospitable? Pour Sambuca di Amore in a snifter and float an odd number of coffee beans on top--Italian tradition says that an odd number of beans tells your guests they're welcome, while an even number...well save those for uninvited drop ins!

Most people use the terms cordial and liqueur interchangeably. Though both describe liquors made by combining or redistilling spirits with one or more aromatic flavorings and are usually highly sweetened, there are subtle differences. Liqueurs are flavored with flowers, herbs, seeds, roots, plants, barks, or any number of spices, while cordials are generally prepared with fruit pulp or juices.

Regardless of what you call them, however, liqueurs date back centuries and were originally formulated as medicinal elixers to "cure" a variety of ills. Made in every country of the world, nearly all liqueurs are quite sweet, with a highly concentrated, dessert-like flavor. Several, made from closely guarded secret recipes and processes, are known throughout the world by their proprietary brand names.

Here are brief descriptions of the most well-known liqueurs. In addition to these there are numerous other flavored liqueurs, including, coffee, hazelnut, melon, strawberry, and black-raspberry.

• Amaretto Made from apricot pits, with an almond flavor.
• Amer Picon Bitter, orange-flavored French apertif cordial made from quinine and spices.
• Anisette Flavored with anise seed producing a licorice flavor
• Benedictine Secret herb formula first produced by Benedictine monks over 400 years ago.
• Chartreuse Yellow and green herb liqueurs developed by the Carthusian monks.
• Cointreau Made from brandy and orange peel; similar to curacao and triple sec but sweeter.
• Creme de Banana Made with artificial banana flavoring.
• Creme de Cacao Flavored with Cacao and vanilla beans.
• Creme de Cassis Flavored with black currants.
• Creme de Menthe Flavored with mint; in both green and white varieties.
• Creme de Noyeaux Flavored with apricot and peach pits and almonds.
• Curacao Orange flavored, made from dried orange peel; in both orange and blue varieties.
• Galliano Flavored with herbs, roots, and spices.
• Grand Marnier Cognac based and flavored with bitter orange peel.
• Kummel Flavored with caraway, anise seed, and other herbs.
• Malibu Rum based and flavored with coconut.
• Maraschino Made from cherries grown in Dalmatia in the former Yugoslavia.
• Rock and Rye Sweetened rye whiskey. Sometimes bottled with rock candy or fruit slices.
• Sambuca Licorice flavored and made from white flowers of the elderberry bush.
• Sloe Gin Made from sloe berries produced by the blackthorn bush.
• Southern Comfort Blend of bourbon and peach liqueur.
• Strega Italian liqueur made from herbs, spices, and plants.
• Triple Sec Highly refined form of Curacao.

Absinthe Special Cocktail

• 1 1/2 oz Anisette
• 1 oz Water
• 1/4 tsp Powdered Sugar
• 1 dash Orange Bitters

Amaretto and Cream

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1 1/2 oz Light Cream

Amaretto Mist

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto

Amaretto Rose

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1/2 oz Rose's Lime Juice
• Club Soda

Amaretto Sour

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice

Amaretto Stinger

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 3/4 oz Creme de Menthe (white)

Amber Amour

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1/2 oz Sour Mix
• Club Soda

Amore-Ade

• 1 1/4 oz Amaretto
• 3/4 oz Triple Sec
• 3 oz Club Soda

Apple Pie No. 2

• 3 oz Apple Schnapps
• 1 splash Cinnamon Schnapps

Arise My Love

• 1 tsp Creme de Menthe (green)
• Chilled Champagne

Banshee

• 1 oz Creme de Banana
• 1/2 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 1/2 oz Light Cream

Blackjack

• 1 oz Kirschwasser
• 1/2 oz Brandy
• 1 oz Coffee

Blackthorn

• 1 1/2 oz Sloe Gin
• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth

Blanche

• 1 oz Anisette
• 1 oz Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz Curacao (white)

Boccie Ball

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1 1/2 oz Orange Juice
• 2 oz Club Soda

Boston Iced Coffee

• 6 oz Coffee, cooled
• 1 oz Creme de Menthe (white)
• 1 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 1 oz Brandy

Burning Sun

• 1 1/2 oz Strawberry Schnapps
• 4 oz Pineapple Juice

Bushwacker

• 1/2 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1/2 oz Light Rum
• 1/2 oz Irish Cream Liqueur
• 2 oz Light Cream

Cafe Cabana

• 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 3 oz Club Soda

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry

• 1 oz Strawberry Schnapps
• 1/4 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 1/2 oz Cream

Creme de Menthe Frappe

Depth Charge

Diana Cocktail

• Creme de Menthe (white)
• Brandy

Duchess

• 1 1/2 oz Anisette
• 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
• 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth

Ferrari

• 1 oz Amaretto
• 2 oz Dry Vermouth

French Connection

• 1 1/2 oz Cognac
• 3/4 oz Amaretto

French Fantasy

• 1 oz Black Raspberry liqueur
• 1 oz Grand Marnier
• 2 oz Cranberry Juice
• 2 oz Orange Juice

Fuzzy Navel

• 3 oz 48-proof Peach Schnapps
• 3 oz Orange Juice

Golden Cadillac

• 1 oz Galliano
• 2 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 1 oz light Cream

Golden Dream

• 1 tbsp Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 1 oz Galliano
• 1 tbsp Light Cream

Goober

• 1 1/2 oz Vodka
• 1 1/2 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur
• 1 1/2 oz Melon Liqueur
• 1 oz Triple Sec
• 1 oz Grenadine
• 3 oz Pineapple Juice
• 4 oz Orange Juice

Grasshopper

• 3/4 oz Creme de Menthe (green)
• 3/4 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 3/4 oz Light Cream

Heat Wave

• 1 1/4 oz Coconut Rum
• 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
• 3 oz Pineapple Juice
• 3 oz Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz Grenadine

Italian Sombrero

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 3 oz Light Cream

Italian Surfer

• 1 oz Amaretto
• 1 oz Brandy
• Pineapple Juice

Johnnie Cocktail

• 3/4 oz Triple Sec
• 1 1/2 oz Sloe Gin
• 1 tsp Anisette

Lover's Kiss

• 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1/2 oz Cherry Brandy
• 1/2 oz Creme de Cacao (brown)
• 1 oz Cream

LSC Rugby Electric Gelatin

• 1 box Lemon-Lime Gelatin
• 2 cups Peppermint Schnapps

Marmalade

• 1 1/2 oz Curacao
• Tonic Water

McClelland Cocktail

• 3/4 oz Triple Sec
• 1 1/2 oz Sloe Gin
• 1 dash Orange Bitters

Melon Cooler

• 1 oz Melon Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
• 1/2 oz Raspberry Schnapps
• 2 oz Pineapple Juice

Mint Highball

• 2 oz Creme de Menthe (green)
• Ginger Ale or Club Soda

Mint on the Rocks

• 2 oz Creme de Menthe (green)

Moulin Rouge

• 1 1/2 oz Sloe Gin
• 3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1 dash Bitters

Panama Cocktail

• 1 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 1 oz Light Cream
• 1 oz Brandy

Peach Melba

• 1 oz Peach Schnapps
• 1/2 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur
• 3 oz Cream

Peppermint Iceberg

• 2 oz Peppermint Schnapps

Peppermint Stick

• 1 oz Peppermint Schnapps
• 1 1/2 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 1 oz Light Cream

Peppermint Twist

• 1 1/2 oz Peppermint Schnapps
• 1/2 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 3 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream

Pink Squirrel

• 1 oz Creme de Noyaux
• 1 tbsp Creme de Cacao (white)
• 1 tbsp Light Cream

Port and Starboard

• 1 tbsp Grenadine
• 1/2 oz Creme de Menthe (green)

Pousse Cafe

• Grenadine
• Chartreuse (yellow)
• Creme de Cassis
• Creme de Menthe (white)
• Chartreuse (green)
• Brandy

Quaalude

• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Hazelnut Liqueur
• 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 1 splash Milk

Raspberry Romance

• 3/4 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 3/4 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur
• 1 1/4 oz Irish Cream Liqueur
• Club Soda

Ritz Fizz

• Chilled Champagne
• 1 dash Lemon Juice
• 1 dash Blue Curacao
• 1 dash Amaretto

Road Runner

• 1 oz Vodka
• 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1/2 oz Coconut Cream

Rocky Mountain Cooler

• 1 1/2 oz Peach Schanpps
• 4 oz Pineapple Juice
• 2 oz Lemon-Lime Soda

St. Patrick's Day

• 3/4 oz Creme de Menthe (green)
• 3/4 oz Chartreuse (green)
• 3/4 oz Irish Whiskey
• 1 dash Bitters

Sambuca Straight

• 2 oz Sambuca
• 3 Coffee Beans

San Francisco Cocktail

• 3/4 oz Sloe Gin
• 3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 3/4 oz Dry Vermouth
• 1 dash Bitters
• 1 dash Orange Bitters

Santini's Pousse Cafe

• 1/2 oz Brandy
• 1 tbsp Maraschino
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz Rum

Sheer Elegance

• 1 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 1 1/2 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Vodka

Sloeberry Cocktail

• 1 dash Bitters
• 2 oz Sloe Gin

Sloe Driver

• 1 1/2 oz Sloe Gin
• 5 oz Orange Juice

Sloe Gin Cocktail

• 2 oz Sloe Gin
• 1 dash Orange Bitters
• 1/4 tsp Dry Vermouth

Sloe Gin Collins

• Juice of 1/2 Lemon
• 2 oz Sloe Gin
• Club Soda

Sloe Gin Fizz

• Juice of 1/2 Lemon
• 1 tsp Powdered Sugar
• 2 oz Sloe Gin
• Club Soda

Sloe Gin Rickey

• Juice of 1/2 Lime
• 2 oz Sloe Gin
• Club Soda

Sloe Vermouth

• 1 oz Sloe Gin
• 1 oz Dry Vermouth
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Something Different

• 1 oz Peach Schnapps
• 1 oz Amaretto
• 2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 2 oz Cranberry Juice

Splash and Crash

• 2 oz Amaretto
• 6 oz Cranberry Juice
• 2 oz Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz 151-proof Rum

Strawberry Fields Forever

• 2 oz Strawberry Schnapps
• 1/2 oz Brandy
• Club Soda

Strawberry Sunrise

• 2 oz Strawberry Schnapps
• 1/2 oz Grenadine
• Orange Juice

Sun Kiss

• 2 oz Amaretto
• 4 oz Orange Juice

Thunder Cloud

• 1/2 oz Creme de Noyaux
• 1/2 oz Blue Curacao
• 1/2 oz Amaretto
• 3/4 oz Vodka
• 2 oz Sour Mix
• 1 oz Lemon-Lime Soda

Tikki Dream

• 3/4 oz Melon Liqueur
• 4 1/4 oz Cranberry Juice

Toasted Almond

• 1 1/2 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 1 oz Amaretto
• 1 1/2 oz Cream or Milk

Tropical Cocktail

• 3/4 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
• 3/4 oz Maraschino
• 3/4 oz Dry Vermouth
• 1 dash Bitters

Twin Peach

• 2 oz Peach Schnapps
• Cranberry Juice

Watermelon

• 1 oz Strawberry Liqueur
• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Sour Mix
• 1 oz Orange Juice

Yellow Parrot Cocktail

• 3/4 oz Anisette
• 3/4 oz Chartreuse (yellow)
• 3/4 oz Apricot-flavored Brandy

Zero Mist

• 2 oz Creme de Menthe
• 1 oz Water