Why are liqueurs always sweet?

The ingredients that liqueurs contain vary depending on the type of liquor it is. Some, like passionfruit liqueurs or raspberry liqueurs, are just made from fruit juices, while others have added sugar or honey to them. This makes a difference in taste and chemical composition as well. Liqueurs can be broken down into four main categories: sweet, semi-sweet, bitter, and unflavored or absinthe types.

The other ingredients in liqueurs include water, alcohols such as vodka or gin or even cognac (there are even some liqueurs that contain rum), and sugar syrup containing glucose & fructose sugars derived from corn starch which give it a sweeter flavor than cane sugar would provide alone. It also includes extracts from plants which may be used for flavoring or coloring purposes. Examples of fruit liqueurs include such brands as Campari, Schnapps, and creme de cassis. Ingredients have been added to them to make the drink sweeter or spicier.

Other special ingredients that go into the making of liqueurs are fruit, chocolate, coffee, nutmeg, and peppermint. Fruit infused beverages like strawberry or raspberry liqueur or even passionfruit liqueur, are some of the favorites among liqueur lovers out there. It is apparent that liqueur manufacturers use premium quality ingredients in order to achieve the best possible taste in their beverages, including the fruit and liquor that they use for these. Most use real fruit, rather than preserved fruit or artificial fruit flavors as there is a huge taste difference.

Liqueurs are becoming an ever more popular among many people as these are far easier to use in making fantastic tasting cocktails and mixes, rather than using several different ingredients.