Perhaps nothing is quite as festive around the holidays as fruit liqueurs. Here’s a round-up of some of the most amazing fruit liqueurs to bring some cheer to your holiday celebrations.
Heimat, $29
Crafted from local fruits only in season, Heimat fruit liqueurs boast several flavors including: cranberry, white peach, blackberry, raspberry, nectarine, Bosc pear, elderflower and rhubarb. "A fruit liqueur adds rich flavor and complexity to almost any cocktail year round, and especially around the holiday season,” says Ute Londrigan, founder of Heimat New York handcrafted liqueurs. "For more festive sipping, use a blackberry liqueur for a Kir Royale. We also love to serve a riff on the Negroni cocktail, which we call Ligroni, that adds our cranberry liqueur in place of the Campari.” Londrigan also recommends serving a splash of fruit liqueur with club soda or tonic or to pour the liqueur over ice cream with some fresh fruit for an easy and elegant dessert.
Tamarelo, $21
One of the most unusual fruit liqueurs on the market distills tamarind fruit into a luscious, addictive beverage. Kevin Faul fell in love with tamarinds, and he spent three and a half years perfecting his recipe. Since its debut in 2020, Tamarelo has won several awards, including the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers best brand for cordials, and a silver medal in this year’s San Francisco Wine and Spirits competition. While Tamarelo lends itself perfectly to tropical cocktails, it also makes a mean gluhwein for the holidays. Recipes available and storefinders at tamarelo.com.
Chinola , $32.99
Made in the Dominican Republic, this fruit liqueur is now distributed in the United States. Free from artificial additives or colors, CHINOLA contains about six, whole passion fruit in each bottle, and all the fruit distilled into the liqueur is grown sustainable along the norther coast in the Samaná peninsula. This passion fruit liqueur tastes fabulous by itself, but it also lends itself to cocktails as well. The word “chinola” - pronounced CHEE-NO-LA - is what locals in the Dominican Republic refer to passion fruit. Recipes and store locators can be found at chinola.com.
Chambord $35.99 for gift set that includes Chambord and Korbel Champagne
If you’re looking to ring in the new year with a traditional kir royale cocktail, then Chambord might be your new best friend. Made with the juices and berries of blackberries, raspberries and black currants, this French liqueur is a classic for a reason. It’s also divine when mixed with chocolate liqueur and so delicious as a pour over ice cream, too.
Gran Marnier Cordon Rouge, $39.99
This classical French combination of a cognac base combined with bitter orange boasts a rich history that dates back to the late 1880s. It’s a classic for a reason. If you want a step up from the standard Cordon Rouge, try the Cuveé Louis-Alexandre for $69.99, which blends refined V.S.O.P. cognac and liquor d’orange.
Sipsmith Sloe Gin, $46.00
Sipsmith’s London dry gin is left to rest on wild sloe berries, a hedgerow fruit in the plum family. The resulting liqueur boasts a subtle sweetness and a beautiful flavor. Much like a wine, each vintage is a little different, as each fall harvest differs every season. It adds a festive note to traditional gin cocktails. If you’ve never tried sloe gin, consider it the limoncello of Great Britain.
Preserve Liqueur, $29.99
Made by Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah, this liqueur was inspired by a sunset in the Swaner Nature Preserve. Made with blood orange, black tea, raspberry, lemon balm and ginger in an all corn base, this liqueur sings of summer beauty. It’s great to sip on its own, but it also lends a beautiful note to sparkling cocktails and even margaritas.
Good Land fruit liqueurs, $29
While the name “Good Land” refers to Alice Cooper’s quip in Wayne’s World that Milwaukee means “good land,” these fruit liqueurs made by Great Lakes Distillery are no joke. Cranberry, Door County cherry, orange and coffee (not exactly a fruit liqueur, but still good) are the four flavors that round out its offerings, and anyone could be a festive addition to your holiday table.
