Liqueurs, Explained
Updated September 2026
A liqueur is a distilled spirit with added flavouring and added sugar. That is the category.
“Cordial” is not a separate class from liqueur in the United States. The two terms describe the same thing, and a bottle using one rather than the other is making a stylistic choice, not a regulatory one.
The practical consequence shows up constantly: because liqueurs are sweetened and frequently bottled well below spirit strength, products sold alongside spirits often are not spirits at all. Malibu at 21% ABV is a liqueur, not a rum. Sloe gin at roughly 25% is a liqueur, not a gin. Both are shelved with the category they cannot legally join, and both behave very differently in a recipe as a result.
Check the ABV before substituting a liqueur for a spirit. It is usually the reason a drink comes out weak and sweet.
Start here
Cordial vs liqueur — the full explanation.
Gran Gala vs Cointreau — two orange liqueurs, compared.
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Everything we’ve published on liqueurs
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Comparisons
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Questions answered
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- how long does peach schnapps last
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- what is a cordial drink
- what to mix grand marnier with
- what to mix with amaretto
- what to mix with peach schnapps
- what to mix with triple sec
Recipes & cocktails
Also explore: Rum Guide · Bourbon Guide · Gin Guide · Beer Guide · Brandy Guide · Wine Guide · Vodka Guide