The Dreamsicle prepared by William Morse of The Fish House gets some of its unique flavor from using Licor 43, a Spanish liqueur. / Ben Twingley/GoPensacola.com
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Do you ever wonder how a bartender can make that drink taste like a piece of Key lime pie (Key lime martini), or a piece of Lemonhead candy (lemon drop martini), or even like a piece of gingerbread (white-chocolate gingerbread martini)? Let me introduce you to the liqueur (not to be confused with liquor).
Originating from the Latin word liquifacere (to liquefy), liqueurs date back as early as the thirteenth century, and are descendants of herbal medicines.
Liqueurs are alcoholic beverages that have been flavored with a variety of ingredients, including fruit, herbs, nuts, spices and flowers. They are typically very sweet, often colored and generally low in alcohol content. While there are numerous flavored spirits (e.g., flavor-infused vodka), the main distinction is that liqueurs contain added sugar, while spirits do not.
Liqueurs come in a wide range of flavors, including almond, hazelnut, vanilla and chocolate, to name a few. While many express a primary flavor, all liqueurs are blends. For example, in order to emphasize the chocolate in crème de cacao, a small amount of vanilla is added into the mixture. Combining liqueurs with primary spirits and other mixers, you can manipulate a drink to taste like just about anything you can imagine.
One of my favorites to use is a Spanish liqueur called Licor 43. It derives its name from the secret combination of forty-three fruits, spices and herbs used to make it. It is a creamy blend with its dominant flavor being orange. However, it can be used in many drinks, contributing different flavors, depending on the other spirits being used. For example, it helps emphasize the creaminess and lime flavor in the Key lime martini.
One of my favorite drinks to make here at The Fish House is the Dreamsicle. If made correctly, it tastes just like the orange Push-Up Pops we used to eat as children.
To make this drink, combine the following in a martini shaker:
2 orange slices (muddle thoroughly)
1.25 ounces Three Olives Orange Vodka
.75 ounce Licor 43
1.5 ounces cream
Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an additional fresh orange slice.
Sit back and enjoy, and reminisce on the days of buying Push-Up Pops off the ice cream truck.
Angus Seafood, Steaks and Spirits, 1101 Scenic Highway, Pensacola. 432-0539, or visit www.anguspensacola.com.
