The market · Liqueurs and bitters · France and the north-west, The Americas

Orange liqueur

Liqueur flavoured with sweet and bitter orange peel — the sweet half of the margarita, sidecar and cosmopolitan.

bitter orange · zesty · sweet

Kinds

Triple sec
Clear, on a neutral spirit: clean and bright.
Dry curaçao
On brandy: richer and less sweet.
Cognac-based
Rich and sweet — for sipping and crêpes Suzette.
Blue curaçao
For colour; usually the weakest.

Goes with

lime juiceblanco tequilacognaclemon juice

Knowing it

Where to buy
A good triple sec or dry curaçao at 40%. Cheap triple sec is mostly sugar at low strength.
Worth knowing
It's sugar as well as flavour — when you add it to a sour, cut the syrup by about as much.

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