From rich and decadent creams to sweet and viscous fruits, there is a wide variety of liqueurs to suit every budget. We round up the best value-for-money brands on the market.
SB presents the best value for money liqueurs on the market
The Spirits Business held its annual Liqueur Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised some of the best bottlings in the business.
Looking across multiple categories, from coffee to cream, confectionary to fruit, a wide range of liqueurs were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their quality.
The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, listed in no particular order.
While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each liqueur listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective categories.
Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money liqueurs of 2018.
Price: €25 (US$28.72)
In the Herbal flight, a Master medal was awarded to Cartron Violette. With a mix of floral and herbal aromas, one judge said this was the “only violet I’ve ever liked”.
Produced by French distiller Joseph Cartron, the expression is bottled at 20% abv and is made from violets imported from Egypt.
Mozart Pumpkin Spice
Price: £15 (US$20)
The Chocolate flight saw a Gold medal given to Mozart Distillerie’s Mozart Pumpkin Spice. Judges were impressed with its notes of “custard and cinnamon”.
The 17% abv liqueur melds chocolate, caramel, pumpkin juice, cinnamon, clove, vanilla and a little chilli.
The bottle, suitable for Halloween celebrations, has been designed to emulate a pumpkin.
Price: £17 (US$22.36)
Giffard Rhubarb Liqueur grabbed a Master medal in the Fruit round for its likeness to “rhubarb-and-custard sweets” and “full mouthfeel”.
Produced by French liqueurs and syrups maker Giffard, the expression is made from an infusion of green and red rhubarb chunks and bottled at 20% abv.
Price: £20 (US$26.31)
A Master was given to White Heron Brands’ British Cassis, which had “balsamic vinegar” and “red wine” qualities. The expression has been crafted with blackcurrants grown in the fields of a Herefordshire farm.
“This was the most complex out of them all; it had chocolate, intense wine notes on the nose,” said one judge. “Then on the palate it had more than just blackcurrant; there was chocolate, oak, coffee – there was a lot more going on.”
Price: £18.50 (US$24.34)
Scottish rum distillery Dark Matter Distillers was awarded a Gold medal for its Dark Matter Spiced Mocha Liqueur in the Coffee round.
Bottled at 20% abv, the liqueur was praised for its aromas of “digestive biscuits and white chocolate” and “spiced aftertaste” on the palate.
Price: £10.95 (US$14.50)
Claiming a Master in the Traditional flight was Wenneker Triple Sec, produced by Dutch drinks firm Wenneker. The expression was praised for its combination of “orange, spice, and booze”.
One judge said: “It’s got a fantastic powderiness to it and the mouthfeel is perfect. I love the level of sweetness, which balances the bitterness from the peels.”
Price: £20 (US$26.31)
A Master was bestowed upon Queens of Denmark’s organic elderflower liqueur in the Elderflower flight. With aromas akin to a “delicate white wine” and a “tangy, not over-sweetened” palate with a “long-lasting flavour”, judges were impressed by the expression’s balance.
“This had body to it,” one judge noted. “It had an extra layer of flavour, some depth to it, which gives a really nice balance.”
Price: £15 (US$19.73)
In the Confectionary flight, a Master medallist was found in Koskenkorva Salmiakki, a salt-liquorice-flavoured liqueur from Finland.
One member of the panel said: “The viscosity is perfect: salty, savoury, spicy – perfectly balanced. Adding salt to syrups is a trend now and this is both sweet and salty.”
Bottled at 32% abv, Koskenkorva Salmiakki is produced by Finnish drinks group Altia.
Price: £9.99 (US$13.16)
In the Own Label heat, a Gold was awarded to Aldi’s “complex” Gingerbread Gin Liqueur, which was “not too sweet and a bit zesty”.
Made by budget supermarket chain Aldi, the expression is bottled at 20% abv and distilled in small batches.
Price: £12 (US$15.80)
In the Cream flight, Intercontinental Brands’ Carthy & Black Yorkshire Cream Liqueur was celebrated for its “honey-like” flavour and “silky” texture
“It’s tough to get a complex flavour in cream liqueurs, but these had some great mouthfeels and textures to them,” one judge noted.
Launched in 2017, Carthy & Black’s cream liqueur collection includes a whisky variant and two gin liqueurs.
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