Lots O’ Liqueurs

  Posted on September 14, 2009  by Leslie Blythe  4 comments

My friend, BRADY, stayed with us for a week. One day he came home with a box o’ liqueurs, which equals lots o’ headaches! We had a tasting (actually a few) with some friends and voted on our favorites.

The one on the left is called Domain de Canton, which is an exquisite ginger liqueur that is cognac based. It is really delicious and ginger is proven to be good for your stomach! The bottle is so beautifully designed and I want to make a lamp out of it.

The next one is Esprit Rouge Pomegranate Liqueur. Just think of the antioxidant benefits!

The third is called St. Germain, which is made from elderflowers found in the foothills of the Alps – another gorgeous bottle. It reminds me of my Guerlain perfume bottles. Elderflower has therapeutic properties that relieve herpes simplex (fever blisters), reduces fever, boosts immune system, inflammation, soothes respiratory tract, ear infections, stimulates circulation, rheumatic problems and constipation!

The last one is called Faretti Biscotti Famosi, which tastes like an Italian bakery in a glass. The base of this particular liqueur is vodka. Unfortunately, I could not come up with any health benefits of this liqueur. All I can say is – “It’s damn good!”

In this day and age of beer, wine and the return of classic cocktails, liqueurs tend to be overlooked. These interesting new offerings complement the classic line-up of Drambuie, Cointreau, Benedictine, et al. Bringing a selection out after dinner is a lovely way to extend the evening and explore interesting scents and flavors. Plus, when else are you ever going to get to use those tiny crystal glasses you inherited from Great Aunt Joan?

So Brady, thanks for the box o’ liqueurs. Next time you come over, can you bring me some Ibuprofen?