Liqueur World - 1

Maceration / Infusion / Percolation / Distillation
Knowledge of Flavors with Liqueurs / Cordials / Spirits

Series 1 of 8

Calories Per Ounce of all Liqueurs range from 75-175

Proof Range – 15 – 65 % Alcohol By Volume


Absinthe
A green/yellow bitter liqueur flavored with a variety of herbs, mainly anise, and a usually high alcohol content of around 130 proof. Prepared from the wormwood plant, thought to be a narcotic due to one of its key constituents being a volatile oil called Thujone (“tou – zhon”), known for its hallucinogenic properties due to it being a stimulant to the brain. This was also viewed as the reason for its addictive tendencies and why it was also banned in France in 1915, as the milligram content of Thujone they used may have been too high during the production of the liqueur. It has never been illegal in Spain, the U.K., or the Czech Republic, and is currently legal and produced once again in France. Hemingway referred to it as “Idea changing liquid alchemy”. Absinthe can be purchased at the following websites:
www.eAbsinthe.com or www.laboheme.uk.com

Advocatt
An eggnog liqueur, originally from Holland.

Afrikoko
A 65 proof liqueur from Africa, with the flavors of coconut and chocolate.

Aftershock
A hot & cool cinnamon liqueur from Canada. Red in color. Avalanche is a cool mint, blue color.

Agwa
An herbal liqueur with natural exotic flavor from Holland, made with Amazon guarana, Bolivian botanicals, Chinese ginseng and other herbs and spices. 60 proof.

Akvavit/Aquavit
A Scandinavian neutral spirit/liqueur made with rye and re-distilled with caraway.

Alize – (de France)
Pronounced ah-lee-zay, a citrus/tropical fruit liqueur with a light cognac base, and a tart passion fruit flavor. Yellow in color, it also comes in red with the addition of cranberry juice. Red Passion, Gold Passion, and Wild Passion are available.

Almond Liqueur
A sweetened liqueur flavored with almonds. Red in color, brands use the names Crème de Almond or Crème de Noyaux.

Amadeus
A cognac-based liqueur from Austria, with infusions of almond and orange.

Amaretto
Made in Italy from apricot kernals/stones, which produce an almond flavor. First made in Saronno during the 16th Century.

Amarula
A cream liqueur from Africa, made of the fruit of the marula tree. It is fermented, distilled, and aged for two years in French oak casks, which lends and hints chocolate, caramel, and butterscotch. The fruit of the tree is known to be a favorite treat of wild elephants.

Amber
A liqueur made with natural maple and pecan, balanced with Macallan single malt scotch. 50 Proof, out of Scotland.

Amer Picon
An orange flavored French aperitif made with quinine and spices.
A bitter orange flavor.

Amsterdam
A liqueur made of cherry brandy and Advocaat.

Anis
An anise flavored spirit. Not as sweet as anisette.
Diluting with a little fresh water is an option before serving.

Anise
Native to the Eastern Meditteranean, Western Asia, and North Africa. A plant in the parsley family, both the leaves and seeds give off a sweet licorice scent, and are harvested when ripe in autumn. Used both in cooking and to flavor liqueurs such as Absinthe, Pastis, Pernod, Herbsaint, Anisette, Ouzo, and Sambuca.

Anisette
A sweet, clear anise flavored liqueur, from aniseeds.

Aperitif
A beverage, usually alcohol based, consumed prior to a meal to stimulate the appetite.

Aperol
An Italian aperitif, made of an infusion of spirit with rhubarb, cinchona, genziana, and other secret herbs. A red-orange color, and sweet-bitter orange/herb taste.

Apple Brandy
Brandy distilled from hard cider.

Apple Jack
Brandy distilled from apple mash, containing less than 50% apple brandy. The only licensed Apple Jack distiller left in the world is Laird & Company in Scobeyville, New Jersey.

Applefest
A 30 Proof sour apple liqueur from Holland.

Arak
A strong brandy-like rum from the Indo island of Java.

Arack
An extra fine liqueur from Israel, distilled from Molasses in the taste of anise.

Armagnac
A type of brandy made from fermented grape juice (wine) and produced in the Armagnac region of Gascony, France. Armagnac is much older than Cognac, dating back to the fifteenth century. An Armagnac with an aging minimum of ten years is know as Hors d’ age.

Aurum
A brandy-based Italian orange liqueur with herbal overtones.

Batida de Coco
Brazilian rum-based coconut flavored liqueur.

Till next week, kb