In today's instalment of the Bartenders' Brand Awards is the results of the liqueurs session.
Liqueurs is a catch-all category in which you are often comparing apples to oranges – quite literally; of all the fruit liqueurs, it was the Ferrand Dry Curaçao that took top spot.
Described as having a “zesty” profile, with an “electric finish”, it scored a huge 47/50 on taste. Its refined classical looks and price point saw gold too, totalling a dominant 89/100.
Mouse Kingdom, whose Dark Berries won this category in 2023, ran the winner close with its Strawberry, scoring gold on taste, with judges remarking on the sophistication of what tasted like a strawberry wine. “Fantastic,” summed up their comments. It completed a three-gold sweep, with an impressive 86/100.
In third was an old friend of the back bar – Heering Cherry Liqueur – which also took triple gold. You’ve probably tried it, but our panel described a “concentrated, balanced” cherry liqueur, with a “robust body” and “long finish”.
In fourth was Zucca Rabarbaro – a classic rhubarb amaro from Italy. Judges noted big, bold flavours, herbs and roots, on the way to awarding it gold.
Completing our top five was The Nines Botanical, a Lithuanian bitters with the second-best score in the blind tasting (45/50). “Round and complex” herbal profile with accents of “citrus”, went the tasting notes.