What to do with synthetic blue Curacao, transparent Triple Sec, lemon yellow limoncello? These are all liqueur classics – both used in world-famous cocktails and enjoyed neat with ice.
Blue Curacao
Created at the Dutch liqueur distillery Lucas Bols in Amsterdam. Curacao is made using bitter oranges from the Caribbean island of Curacao. They are very aromatic, but normally inedible. In the time of Lucas Boles, they were delivered by Dutch sailors by ship to the port of Amsterdam. Only the skins are used for the liqueur, not the fruit juice. The original Curacao is transparent. It gets its bright blue hue from added food coloring, usually brilliant blue E133. Bols is said to have simply added it to make the liqueur stand out. Today, Blue Curacao is also produced by other famous French liqueur houses such as Monin, Marie Brizard.
How to enjoy Curacao Blue
Curacao can be drunk neat with ice, but due to its intense color, it is often used in cocktails, most often with citrus juices, sparkling white wines, sparkling water, cranberry juice, etc. When mixing blue Curacao with juices, be aware that some combinations of blue Curacao and red juices will result in a nasty brown cocktail. Mixing Curacao with orange juice results in a delicious moss green drink. One of the most famous cocktails with this liqueur is the Blue Kamikaze. Mix together 1 part Blue Curacao liqueur, 1 part vodka and 1 part lime juice. Pour into a martini glass and serve with ice.
Triple Sec
The original orange liqueur was created in 1834 and is still produced by the Combier distillery in France, using only the sun-dried peels of oranges grown in Haiti. But today, Triple Sec has become a proper name for almost all orange-flavored liqueurs. Mildly sweet and bitter Triple Sec are basically the same Curacao liqueurs. The main difference is that Triple Sec is usually clear and transparent because it is not colored with dyes.
How to enjoy Triple Sec
Orange liqueurs are the most frequent guests in countless cocktail recipes. Both Margarita, White Lady, Long Island Iced Tea, Cosmopolitan, as well as homemade ones – with citrus juices, carbonated water, lemonades. The most famous seems to be Margarita. It is prepared by mixing 35 ml of tequila, 20 ml of Triple Sec, 15 ml of lime juice. Pour into a margarita glass, add ice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Cointreau
This orange liqueur was created by Edouard Cointreau 150 years ago at the Angers distillery in France. Both sweet and bitter orange peels from oranges grown in plantations in Spain and Haiti are used in its production. The drink has a perfect balance of bitter and sweet aromas.
How to enjoy Cointreau
This liqueur has a high alcohol content. It is recommended both as an aperitif before a meal and as a digestif. It is also an ingredient in cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan. It is prepared as follows – take 30 ml of vodka, 15 ml of Cointreau, 15 ml of lime juice, 15 ml of cranberry juice. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a shaker with ice, pour into a martini glass, garnished with a lime wedge and enjoy.
Limoncello
Limoncello is the Italian version of citrus liqueurs. Lemon liqueurs originated in southern Italy. They, like orange liqueurs, are made not from citrus juice, but from peels. From the Bay of Naples to Sicily, there are limoncello lemon varieties and liqueur recipes.
How to enjoy
In Italy, limoncello is usually served as a digestif after coffee. It is especially good ice cold. It can also be mixed into cocktails. Limoncello will be perfect both with prosecco and in a very simple summer drink – liqueur, carbonated water, a couple of lemon slices and ice. Recipe – 1 part limoncello, ½ lemon, cut into wedges or slices, 7 parts sparkling water or lemonade, ice. Pour limoncello into a large pitcher, add ice, lemon slices and add sparkling water or lemonade. If desired, a little lemon mint, lemongrass or lemon thyme can be added.
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