Bols 1575 Blue Curaçao Liqueur

Bols 1575 Blue Curaçao comes from Lucas Bols, the Amsterdam house whose heritage reaches back to 1575, created to mark the 450th anniversary of the company and still made by its master distillers from carefully selected natural ingredients. Bottled at 29.5% in 70cl, it is a curacao, an orange liqueur, blue in the glass but orange in flavour, layered here with cardamom, vanilla and grains of paradise.

The nose is fresh, slightly bitter and floral with fruity citrus, cardamom and vanilla, the palate balanced and sweet with a slight bitterness, citrus flavours and a creamy vanilla, the finish long and gentle with a hint of citrus. Its job in a glass is orange flavour with a vivid blue colour, which makes it the base of a Blue Lagoon, a Blue Margarita or a Blue Hawaii, and a colour highlight in fruity long drinks. Pour it neat or over ice for a refreshing change. The orange note holds even though the liquid is blue.