NATIONAL LIQUEUR DAY | OCTOBER 16
National Liqueur Day on October 16th annually celebrates the myriad classes and flavors of liqueur.
#NationalLiqueurDay
The word liqueur comes from the Latin liquifacere, which means to liquefy. A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage made from a distilled spirit. Distillers flavor the spirit with fruit, cream, herbs, spices, flowers, or nuts. Next, they bottle it with added sugar or other sweeteners. While liqueurs are typically considerably sweet, distillers do not usually age their product long. They do, however, allow a resting period during production, which allows the flavors to marry.
With the broad selection of spirits available in seasonal, fragrant, and often curious flavors (vodkas and rums in particular), there is often confusion of liqueurs and liquors. In the United States and Canada, spirits are frequently called liquor. The most reliable rule of thumb to follow suggests that liqueurs comprise a sweeter, syrupy consistency, while liquors do not. Most liqueurs also have a lower alcohol content than spirits. However, some do contain as much as 55% ABV.
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In parts of the United States, liqueurs may also be called cordials or schnapps.
Historically, liqueurs descend from herbal medicines prepared by monks in Italy as early as the 13th century. They steeped these often bitter herbs and sweetened them with sugar to make them more palatable to the monks’ ailing patients. The curative’s potency received a restful boost from its alcohol content as well.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL LIQUEUR DAY
Go out for a drink of liqueur with friends. (Remember, always drink responsibly and never to drink and drive.) Share your favorite liqueur or a cocktail containing your favorite. Ask your bartender to make their favorite cocktail. Explore the world of liqueurs by reading up on them. We recommend Luscious Liqueurs by A.J. Rathbun. Request it while celebrating with friends and post it using #NationalLiqueurDay on social media.
NATIONAL LIQUEUR DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this beverage holiday.
Liqueur FAQ
Q. Which liqueurs have a National Day?
A. Four liqueurs have celebrations on the calendar. They are:
Q. Can I make a liqueur at home?
A. Some liqueurs are fairly simple to make at home. Most liqueurs require patience, though. It takes time to infuse the flavors into the alcohol. Two satisfyingly delicious liqueurs to make at home include Kahlua and limoncello.
Q. What liqueurs are made from oranges?
A. Grand Marnier mentioned above is an orange liqueur. Another brand of orange liqueur is Cointreau. There are also generic orange liqueurs such as triple sec and curaςao.
