Liqueurs have different “jobs” anywhere you are in the world, most cultures have their own liqueurs or bitters. From grandmothers cherry liqueur to home made italian Limoncello. But what all of them have in common is that they are made from spirits, if they are made from the fruit they are Wine. F. ex. plum wine.
There are two types of liqueurs: Liqueur and Creme. The difference is that Creme contains more sugar and therefore feels thicker and trickles down if poured/floated over drinks ex. Bramble
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage made from a distilled spirit that has been flavored with fruit, cream, herbs, spices, flowers or nuts and bottled with added sugar or other sweetener. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long after the ingredients are mixed, but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to mingle.
Liqueurs are historical descendants of herbal medicines; they were made in Italy as early as the 13th century and were often prepared by monks (e.g. Chartreuse).
Nowadays, liqueurs are made worldwide and are served in many ways: by themselves, poured over ice, with coffee, mixed with cream or other mixers to create cocktails, etc. They are often served with or after a dessert. Liqueurs are also used in cooking.
Some liqueurs are prepared by infusing certain woods, fruits, or flowers in either water or alcohol and adding sugar or other items. Others are distilled from aromatic or flavoring agents. Anise liqueurs have the interesting property of turning from transparent to cloudy when added to water: the oil of anise remains in solution in the presence of a high concentration of alcohol, but crystallizes when the alcohol concentration is reduced; this is known as the ouzo effect.
Below is a list of common liqueur, but be aware there are so many more than this.
Amaretto (28% ABV)
An Italian almond tasting liqueur. Amaretto actually means “a little bitter” in Italian. Although Amaretto tastes strongly of almonds, it is actually made from apricot stone.
Baileys (17% ABV)
Baileys, or Baileys Irish Cream, is an Irish Whiskey based cream liqueur. It has tasting notes of coffee and chocolate. Each year Baileys uses over 220 million litres of Irish produced cream to make its liqueur.
Chartreuse Green (55% ABV) and Yellow (40% ABV)
Chartreuse is a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian Monks since 1737. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the production of Chartreuse, but it is said that it contains approximately 130 herbs and spices and that only two monks know the exact recipe and production methods.
Cointreau (40% ABV)