Liquor vs. Liqueur — What's the Difference?

Liquor represents a category of distilled alcoholic beverages that includes familiar names like whiskey, vodka, rum, and gin. These beverages are known for their distinct, potent nature and are often consumed either neat, on the rocks, or as a base in cocktails. On the contrary, liqueur is a sweetened alcoholic drink. This sweetness usually arises from added sugars, and the drink is typically flavored with fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, or even cream.

While both liquor and liqueur have their foundation in alcohol, their purposes and characteristics diverge noticeably. Liquor generally boasts a higher alcohol content and stands as a foundation in many alcoholic concoctions. Liqueur, with its inherent sweetness and flavor, is often sipped on its own, used as a cocktail mixer, or even utilized in culinary creations for its unique taste.

The production processes also differ between the two. Liquor undergoes distillation from a fermented substance, like grain or fruit, and its flavor comes primarily from this source material and the aging process. Liqueur, however, is often made by infusing certain flavors into a base spirit and then sweetening it. This results in a diverse range of flavors, from fruity to herbal, that can be found in different liqueurs.

Lastly, both liquor and liqueur have rich histories tied to their origins, with many regions and countries boasting their signature liquors or liqueurs. While liquor tells tales of distilleries and age-old processes, liqueur offers stories of secret recipes, monastic traditions, and unique flavor infusions.