| A liqueur is an extremely sweet alcoholic beverage | | | | Liquor is created when the ingredients are distilled into |
| that is enhanced by herbs, nuts, fruits, flowers, | | | | ethyl alcohol and water. Liqueurs combine distilled |
| spices, or cream. While most liqueurs are naturally | | | | liquors (i.e. rum) with the aforementioned flavours. |
| sweet, sugar is often added during the bottling | | | | Liquor is a term that is used quite broadly, whereas a |
| process. Unlike other alcoholic beverages, liqueurs do | | | | liqueur refers to a specific product. For a beverage to |
| not need to age, and often have short resting | | | | be considered a liqueur, it must have 2.5 percent |
| periods during production. In essence, liqueurs are | | | | sugar by weight. Varieties of sweeteners are used, |
| redistilled spirits that have been enhanced by various | | | | including cane sugar, honey, molasses, etc. |
| flavours. | | | | There are five major classifications of liqueurs: |
| Liqueurs have a unique history that date back to | | | | generics, proprietary, schnapps, anise-flavoured, and |
| ancient times. People believed that liqueurs had healing | | | | bitters. Generic liqueurs are those that can be |
| and medicinal powers. Italy was the first country to | | | | reproduced easily and by anyone. They are not |
| adapt liqueurs into their diet in the 13th century. | | | | dependent on a specific resource and can be |
| Presently, liqueurs are available internationally and are | | | | produced in various parts of the world. These are |
| served a variety of ways. Serving methods include | | | | typically less expensive. Examples of generic liqueurs |
| on the rocks over ice, with coffee, mixed with | | | | include Crème de Cacao and Curacao. |
| cream to form a dessert, or combined with a mixer | | | | Proprietary liqueurs are those that must be made to |
| to form a cocktail. In restaurants, liqueurs are served | | | | an exact formula in order to protect the trademark. |
| after the main course, during dessert. In the | | | | Examples of proprietary liqueurs include Southern |
| household, liqueurs can be used to prepare a variety | | | | Comfort, Grand Mariner, and Kailua. |
| of meals. | | | | Schnapps are typically a white liqueur that is made |
| Currently there are many flavoured spirits (or | | | | from northern countries, such as Germany and |
| flavoured liquors), however; these are not the same | | | | Scandinavia. Schnapps drinks are typically made out |
| as liqueurs because they are not infused. Most | | | | of grains, potatoes, or molasses. They can be |
| liqueurs contain 15 to 55 percent alcohol by volume, | | | | flavoured with almost anything, including mint, root |
| which is why they are often served in small portions. | | | | beer, and watermelon. There is a thin line between |
| There are various categories of liqueurs, including | | | | differentiating schnapps from flavoured vodkas. |
| coffee, chocolate, cream, crème, fruit, berry, | | | | Liqueurs are meant to be enjoyed in moderation, |
| flower, herbal, nut, and whiskey. Dessert wines gain | | | | drinking too much of the substance can impair your |
| their sweetness naturally and are not considered | | | | ability to operate motor vehicles and heavy |
| liqueurs. | | | | machinery. While you can become sick from drinking |
| You may be wondering what the difference is | | | | too much liquor, your symptoms will worsen if you |
| between liquor and liqueur. While their spellings are | | | | drink too much liqueur. |
| similar, their molecular composition is quite different. | | | | |