Herbal Liqueurs
Herbal Liqueurs
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Herbs are not just tasty in food but are also delicious in our drinks.
Many people know that drinks like Fireball contain cinnamon (Cinnamomum sp.) or that Kahlua contains coffee beans (Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta) but many of our favorite drinks and liqueurs contain the same herbs that we add to our foods, steep in our teas, or utilize for their medicinal properties.
Image from The Spice House
Some of the most common herbs are either infused, extracted, or distilled to create the drinks we know and love:
Almond (Prunus dulcis)- amaretto
Anise (Pimpinelle anisum)- many liqueurs contain anise including absinthe, sambuca, and anisette
Bitters (Gentiana sp. among others)- digestive bitters are often added to drinks for flavor or to utilize their medicinal properties (stimulating digestion)
Bitter orange (Citrus x aurantium)- Curacao
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum sp.)- fireball and goldschlauer
Coffee beans (Coffea sp.)- drinks like Kahlua contain coffee which was steeped with a species in the genus Coffea
Elderflower (Sambucus nigra)- St. Germaine
Hazelnut (Corylus avellana)- frangelico
Mint (Menthe sp)- Creme de menthe
Wormwood (Artemisia sp.)- the infamous 'green fairy' otherwise known as absinthe often contains wormwood
Herbal Liqueur Recipes
Herbal Liqueur Recipes
References:
1. “Homemade Amaretto Liqueur”. DrinksMixer. Date accessed: May 13 2025. https://www.thespruceeats.com/diy-amaretto-liquer-760287.
2. Chapman, John. “History of Liqueurs”. The Oxford Wine Company. Date accessed: May 13 2025. https://shop.oxfordwine.co.uk/history-of-liqueurs.
3. Clark, Melissa. “Lime Granita with Candied Mint Leaves and Crème Fraîche”. Aug 2007. Epicurious. Date accessed: June 1 2011. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/lime-granita-with-candied-mint-leaves-and-creme-fraiche-239078.
4. “Homemade Tia Maria or Kahlua Copycat Coffee Liqueur Recipe”. May 13 2021. Oh The Things We'll Make. Date accessed: May 13 2025. https://thethingswellmake.com/homemade-tia-maria-kahlua-copycat-coffee-liqueur-recipe/
5. “Recipe: Fresh Mint Liqueur”. TheLiquorist. Date accessed: May 13 2025. https://www.theliquoristblog.com/fresh-mint-liqueur/.
6. “Gdansk's Goldwasser: Alchemic Elixir”. Gdansk-Life.com. Date accessed: Jul 1 2011. http://www.gdansk-life.com/poland/goldwasser#add4e.
7. Graham, Colleen. “Chartreuse Liqueur”. About.com Guide. Date Accessed: June 25 2011. http://cocktails.about.com/od/liqueurscordials/p/chartreuse_lqr.htm.
8. “Orange Bitters recipe”. DrinksMixer. Date accessed: Jun 4. http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/209/#ixzz1PAmivkZ4.
9. Phillips, Kyle. “Amaro Alle Erbe - Italian Herbal Liqeur Recipe”. About.com Guide. Date Accessed: June 25 2011. http://italianfood.about.com/od/aperitifscoffee/r/blr0484.htm.
10. Wikipedia. “Drambuie”. Date accessed: Jul 1 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drambuie.
11. Wikipedia. “Galliano (Liqueur)”. Date accessed: Jul 1 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galliano_%28liqueur%29.
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