make your own liqueurs

[Lior]

I looked through 16 pages of recipe books here, determined not to stray off (did not work, of course!) but found no question like this. So maggiethecat or anyone else who knows such things, what book do you recommend? I want to make liqueurs and cream liqueurs and creme liqueurs (what is the diff?) I am, of course, interested also in chocolate liqueurs, but not only.

Thanks!

[slkinsey]

A cream liqueur has cream in it.

The designation "crème" simply means that it contains enough sugar as to have a syrup-like consistency ("crème" refers to the liqueur having the texture of cream).

[Lior]

Aaaah! Okay! thanks. Now do you know of a good book?

[slkinsey]

No. To be honest, I've rarely had a homemade liqueur that approached the quality of even the lesser commercial products. The exceptions have been things like homemade sloe gin, which isn't exactly rocket science. I've had a few cream liqueur preparations that have been okay, but this is in general not a category I hold in high esteem and, in addition, the homemade preparations are not shelf-stable (not to mention that, if you want "Irish Cream" it's hard to beat mixing cream, sugar and Irish whiskey in a glass yourself according to your preferences).

[Lior]

This is far from my expertise, but I am curious as to what commercial brands do that the homemade cannot. Would a chocolate liqueur also fall under this category? I guess this part of the conversation should be moved to beverages etc...

[dougal]

Not a book.

But some excellent pointers here http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Home_brewing/The_art_of_dram-making/

[Blether]

Did you read this thread ?

From page 447, this old book, to which I just linked in the same thread, has a number of home-liqueur recipes.

[Lior]

whoa!! what gorgeous links. I love "that" old book. And the link Dougal gave me! I will go over both very carefully. I have started to read the thread on infusions. I need to be patient as I cannot drink it all up at once like I want to!!

Thanks so!