Types of Liqueur

Tequila liqueur made in Mexico from 100% blue agave. Made from añejo (aged) and reposado (rested) tequilas that are hand-blended with spicy damiana flowers. 32% ABV; $20.

Versatile French cognac-based liqueur flavored with passionfruit. Wild Passion adds mango and pink grapefruit to the mix, while Red Passion incorporates cranberry and peach. 16% ABV; $20.

Blend of Bénédictine herbal liqueur and brandy. B & B is less sweet than straight Bénédictine. 40% ABV; $32.

50/50 blend of triple-distilled Irish whiskey and stabilized fresh cream. This liqueur, also flavored with cocoa and sugar, can be enjoyed on its own after a meal but is more often added to coffee. 17% ABV; $12.

Aged Scotch whisky flavored with honey and a blend of herbs and spices. Scotland’s prized liqueur, it was created by a mid-18th- century apothecary for Prince Edward Stuart and is now drunk both neat and in cocktails. 40% ABV; $32.

Venerated French liqueur based on cognac and dried bitter orange peels imported from Haiti. Also flavored with vanilla and caramel. 40% ABV; $34.

Pale blue blend of cognac and vodka perked up with pineapple, passionfruit, and orange juices. Despite its tropical flavor, Hpnotiq hails from France. 16.5% ABV; $20.

Irish whiskey flavored with herbs and honey. This velvety liqueur can be enjoyed on its own but is more often used to make Irish coffee. 35% ABV; $32.

English gin-based liqueur flavored with citrus and spice. Created in 1859 by an oyster bar owner, it gained fame with the introduction of the Pimm’s Cup cocktail: Pimm’s and ginger ale or lemon-lime soda garnished with a lemon slice and cucumber sliver. 25% ABV; $16.

Bourbon flavored with peach and a bit of citrus. It was first made in New Orleans in 1874 and is available in two strengths. 35% or 50% ABV; $15–18.

Italian cask-aged brandy flavored with herbs, vanilla, and citrus. The liqueur is amber in color, its taste only slightly sweet. 35% ABV; $24.

Cognac infused with 27 herbs and spices and aged for four years. This sweet, complex French liqueur is rife with notes of citrus, cardamom, cinnamon, and celery-scented angelica. 40% ABV; $32.

Potent liqueur created by Carthusian monks of southeastern France in 1605. Green Chartreuse is bright green and intensely herbal and floral. Yellow Chartreuse is yellow, milder, and sweetened with honey. Green, 55% ABV; yellow, 40% ABV. $42.

Sweet, yellow Italian liqueur tasting of licorice and vanilla with herbal, spicy undertones. Italy’s best-selling liqueur took off internationally in the late 1960s, when the Galliano company promoted their new Harvey Wallbanger cocktail. 30% ABV; $30.

Bittersweet German liqueur made from 56 herbs, fruits, spices, barks, and resins, some of them traditional medicinals. 34% ABV; $22.

Benign successor to absinthe (the hallucinogenic wormwood-based favorite of bohemians of late-19th-century Paris). Pernod lacks absinthe’s wormwood herb, but retains its licorice flavor—the result of its anise-seed base. 40% ABV; $26.

Distilled from some 70 herbs. Saffron gives a warm yellow color to this smooth yet complex Italian liqueur, whose taste is often described as minty. 40% ABV; $30.

Thick, sweet, low-alcohol liqueur made from black raspberries and a handful of other fruits. Honey, spices, and herbs round out the flavor profile. 16.5% ABV; $30.

Dark red cherry liqueur tasting of black cherries, though not as sweet as many other fruit liqueurs. Peter Heering of Denmark created it in 1818 by steeping crushed cherries, pits and all, in oak vats of brandy. 24% ABV; $20.

The original triple sec, distilled from the peels of bitter and sweet oranges, then flavored with spices. The recipe hasn’t changed since Cointreau created it in Angers, France, in 1849. 40% ABV; $33.

Green honeydew melon liqueur from Japan. Midori’s fresh, sweet taste and vibrant color make it a versatile staple in bars worldwide. 21% ABV; $20.

Made in Italy, a pistachio-based liqueur made in small batches and meant to be sipped neat. 23% ABV; $43.

An Italian liqueur that blends the crisp taste of toasted hazelnut with coffee and cocoa notes. 24% ABV; $20.

From Hawaii, roasted macadamia taste enhanced with tropical flavors. 26.5% ABV; $16.

An Italian liqueur based on walnuts and hazelnuts. Thick and chocolate-colored; sweet, with slightly bitter finish. 24% ABV; $26–30.

A California walnut brandy aged for two and a half years in oak, then infused with herbs and spices. 30% ABV; sold in 375ml bottles at $75.

Made in New Orleans, a sweet liqueur reminiscent of the sugary pecan confections of the American South. 21% ABV; $14.

Rich Belgian liqueur made of natural chocolate in a neutral spirit base. A favorite for making chocolate martinis, Godiva Liqueur comes in Dark Chocolate (the most potent), White Chocolate, and Cappuccino. 15–17% ABV; $25.

Clear cinnamon schnapps from Switzerland, with 24-carat gold leaf flakes in the bottle. The flakes recall the days when alchemists believed gold to have healing properties. 43.5% ABV; $20.

Thick, mahogany-colored coffee liqueur made with Mexican coffee, sugarcane spirits, sugar, and a bit of vanilla and vodka. Its sweetness is balanced by a toasty flavor. 20–26.5% ABV; $19.

Canadian rye whiskey flavored with maple syrup. Not as sweet as it may sound, Sortilège is both a nice after-dinner drink and cocktail addition. 30% ABV; $27 (375ml).

Dark, medium-bodied, and flavorful blend of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, sugarcane spirit, vanilla, and sugar. It was first produced in Jamaica in the 1940s, but its recipe is thought to date back to the mid-1660s. 26.5% ABV; $22.

Blend of rich Dutch cocoa, fresh mint, and neutral spirit. The liqueur can be used for cocktails but is more often drunk neat—especially during the winter holidays. 26% ABV; $22.

Any liqueur distilled from anise seed, which tastes like licorice. Some anisette liqueurs can be as sweet as candy. Brands include Marie Brizard, DeKuyper, and Du Bouchett. 25–30% AVB; $10–20.

Made from bitter apricot pits, yet tastes of almonds. The best amarettos are creamy, smooth, and have a hint of marzipan. Brands include Amaretto di Amore, Disaronno, and Luxardo. 21–28% ABV; $12–22.

Orange-colored sweet liqueur distilled from dried peels of bitter oranges. This triple sec comes from the Caribbean island of the same name. Its variant blue curaçao is a popular mixer because of its unusual color; white curaçao and green curaçao are also sold. Brands include DeKuyper, Hiram Walker, and pricey Señor Curaçao. 24–34% ABV; $11–25.

A signature Italian liqueur made by soaking Sorrento lemon peels in pure alcohol and adding sugar. Like vodka, limoncello is often kept in the freezer so it can be enjoyed ice cold. Brands include Caravella, Villa Massa, and Pallini. 24–32% ABV; $18–20.

A clear, semi-dry liqueur made from marasca sour cherries and pure cane syrup. The liqueur originated in Dalmatia (present-day Croatia) and dates from the Middle Ages. Brands include Luxardo and Vlahov. 32% ABV; $23–27.

The grape-based national drink of Greece, tasting of licoricey anise seed. Brands include Boutari, Barbayannis, and Ouzo No.12. 40–45% ABV; $14–20.

Like Pernod, a French descendant of absinthe. All pastis is made using star anise and has a licoricey flavor, but many brands include additional ingredients, such as peppercorns and cardamom. Brands include Hernri Bardouin, Absente, and Ricard. 44–55% ABV; $20–38.

Prized Italian liqueur flavored with star anise and various spices and berries. Of its two versions, white sambuca and black sambuca, white is lighter and mellower. Brands include Romana, Molinari, and Luxardo. 38–42% ABV; $20–30.

Sweet, reddish gin-based liqueur flavored with sloe plums. Though sometimes drunk as a winter warmer, the liqueur is most often used in cocktails. Brands include Gordon’s, Plymouth, DeKuyper, and Hiram Walker. 26–30% ABV; $8–14.

In North America, schnapps is a sweetened clear neutral spirit. In its Northern European homeland, schnapps is any clear, dry neutral spirit, including aquavit and eau-de-vie. Lighter than most liqueurs, sweetened schnapps comes in countless flavors, from apple to root beer. Brands include DeKuyper, Hiram Walker, and Dr. McGillicuddy. 15–50% ABV; $9–14. Schonauer and other European brands run $20–40.

A neutral spirit with natural or artificial sour apple flavoring. The best-selling brand of this American original is Sour Apple Pucker, one of a line of schnapps produced by DeKuyper. 15% ABV; $9.

Sweet, potent, orange-flavored liqueur made from dried bitter-orange peels. Brands include Mr. Boston, Bols, and Marie Brizard. 15–30% ABV; $9–25.

Intensely sweet banana liqueur; mixes well with rum and tequila. Brands include Bols, DeKuyper, and Hiram Walker. 24–30% ABV.

Chocolate liqueur that’s key to the chocolate martini. It’s available in dark (brown) and white (clear) versions, which taste almost identical. Brands include Bols, DeKuyper, and Marie Brizard. 27% ABV.

Black currant liqueur with assertive taste; the ingredient in Kir, a classic champagne cocktail. Brands include Joseph Cartron, Marie Brizard, and DeKuyper. 15–25% ABV.

Versatile bright green liqueur made from peppermint. Also comes in white (clear). Brands include Bols, Cusenier, and McGuinness. 25% ABV.

Almond-flavored liqueur made from apricot or peach pits. Often used in brandy cocktails. Brands include Hiram Walker. 30% ABV.