The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails

herbal liqueur


herbal liqueur is a sweetened alcoholic beverage with flavors derived from herbs and spices. These liqueurs are typically made by steeping herbs, roots, leaves, flowers, citrus peels, or other botanical ingredients in alcohol. Typical herbs and spices used in these liqueurs include angelica, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander, fennel, gentian, hyssop, iris, juniper, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, oregano, peppermint, star anise, thyme, and turmeric.

health and spirits.

Common brands of herbal liqueurs include Bénédictine, Chartreuse, Jägermeister, Liquore Strega, and Galliano. See Bénédictine; Chartreuse; and Galliano. Strega is a yellow Italian herbal liqueur that derives its color from saffron; other flavors come from mint, juniper, and fennel. Herbal liqueurs include such subcategories as amari and fernets.

See also amaro and fernet.

McCart, Melissa. “Dine: The Lure and Lore of Herbal Liqueurs.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 17, 2013. http://www.post-gazette.com/libations/2013/03/17/Dine-The-lure-and-lore-of-herbal-liqueurs/stories/201303170144 (accessed February 15, 2021).

By: Michael Dietsch