Blue curacao is a vibrant blue liqueur that is commonly used as an ingredient in cocktails and mixed drinks. It has a distinct electric blue color and a sweet, citrusy flavor. Blue curacao is popular for its striking visual appeal and ability to add subtle tropical flavors to drinks. But what gives blue curacao its iconic electric blue color and where does the liquor’s distinctive flavor come from? Here’s a closer look at what blue curacao is made of.
What Gives Blue Curacao its Color?
The electric blue color of blue curacao comes from a food coloring additive. Traditional curacao liquors are made by distilling the dried peels of the Laraha citrus fruit, which grows on the island of Curaçao. The peels provide the tangy, orange flavor. But natural curacao liquors have a light yellow or brown hue.
To achieve the brilliant blue color, an artificial food dye called Brilliant Blue FCF is added during production. This synthetic blue dye is approved by the FDA for use in foods and beverages. The dye provides no flavor, it is purely included for visual effect. The amount of blue dye added will determine the intensity of the blue color.
Some lower quality “blue curacaos” may rely entirely on artificial flavors and dyes without containing any real curacao orange liqueur. Authentic blue curacao uses natural citrus distilled spirits as the base.
Main Flavor Ingredients
While the blue color comes from an additive, the flavor of blue curacao comes from natural ingredients:
Laraha Orange Peels
The main flavor component of blue curacao is the dried peels of the Laraha citrus fruit. The Laraha is a bitter orange that grows natively on the island of Curaçao. It has a uniquely aromatic, tropical flavor.
To make blue curacao, the Laraha peels are dried and then distilled to extract the aromatic oils. The resulting distilled spirit has pronounced fresh orange notes. The natural peel oils provide a tangy citrus base with complex herbal undertones.
Neutral Grain Spirit
Most commercial blue curacaos blend the Laraha peel distillate with a neutral grain spirit derived from corn, wheat, or rye. The neutral spirit allows the citrus flavor to shine while thinning out the texture. It also brings down the proof to make blue curacao more accessible as a mixer.
Sugar
Blue curacao is sweetened with sugar, typically simple syrup or cane sugar. The added sugar balances out the bitterness of the Laraha peels. It brings the blue curacao to the 30-35% ABV range and gives it a pleasing sweet and sour flavor profile.
Other Botanicals
Some recipes call for other herbs, fruits, spices, and botanicals alongside the Laraha oranges. Common additions include ginger, vanilla, lemon, lime, cloves, cardamom, and anise. These extra ingredients complement the orange flavor with hints of spice, mint, or other fruits. However, the Laraha citrus peels remain the core component.
How is Blue Curacao Made?
Blue curacao production involves multiple steps to transform the Laraha oranges into a brightly colored liqueur. Here is an overview of the key production stages:
Harvesting Laraha Oranges
Laraha oranges are harvested by hand once they fully ripen on the trees in Curaçao. The bitter oranges are inedible fresh, but their peels have an intense citrus oil content perfect for distilling.
Drying the Peels
The peels are removed from the oranges and laid out to sun dry. Drying concentrates the aromatic oils in preparation for distillation.
Distilling the Oils
The dried peels go into a still for distillation. This separates the volatile citrus oils from the peels through heating and condensing. The result is a highly concentrated clear spirit containing the flavorful Laraha oils.
Mixing with a Neutral Spirit
The distilled essence is then blended with a neutral spirit like cane liquor or vodka to dilute it down to the desired proof.
Adding Sugar
Once diluted, simple syrup, cane sugar or agave nectar is incorporated to sweeten and smooth out the flavor.
Coloring with Dye
The Brilliant Blue FCF dye gets added at this stage to produce the signature electric blue hue. The dye dissolves completely into the mixture.
Bottling the Final Product
After the ingredients are fully mixed, the blue curacao is filtered and bottled. It may be aged briefly before bottling. The blue curacao is now ready to be shipped out to bars and liquor stores!
Types of Blue Curacao
There are a few varieties of blue curacao available:
Triple Sec
Triple sec is the lightest and most common type of blue curaçao. It combines Laraha peel distillate with a neutral spirit and has around 30% ABV. The flavor is mild and sweet.
Blue Curaçao
This bolder version uses less neutral spirit so the Laraha orange flavor stands out more. The ABV is slightly higher at around 40%. Regular blue curaçao has a robust, bitter orange taste.
Blue Curaçao Liqueur
To make a silky, liqueur-style blue curaçao, dairy ingredients like milk proteins or cream may be added during production. This gives it a creamy mouthfeel. The ABV drops to around 20%.
Red Curacao
By using the red food dye Allura Red AC instead of blue, some distillers make a red-hued curaçao. The flavor remains the same, only the color changes.
How Does Blue Curacao Taste?
Blue curacao has a distincitve bittersweet yet zesty citrus flavor profile. Here are some of the major tasting notes:
Sweet and Sour
Thecombination of Laraha orange oils and added sugar gives blue curacao a candy-like sweet yet tart taste. It’s much sweeter than drinking orange juice or eating a fresh orange.
Orange Zest
The distilled orange oils provide an intense fresh orange zest flavor. Imagine the concentrated taste of biting into an orange peel.
Subtle Bitterness
There are undertones of bitterness from the natural Laraha oils that help balance out the sweetness. This keeps the flavor from becoming cloying.
Herbal and Spicy
Depending on added ingredients, some herbal notes like anise or spices like cardamom may come through. But typically orange is the star.
Vanilla and Cream
In liqueur versions, added dairy ingredients lend hints of creamy vanilla and soften the mouthfeel.
Overall, blue curacao delivers a candy-flavored orange burst with complex citrus aroma and subtle bitter bite. The sweetness makes it accessible as a cocktail mixer.
How is Blue Curacao Used in Cocktails?
Here are some of the most common ways bright blue curacao livens up cocktails and mixed drinks:
Colorful Accent
Its visually stunning blue color makes blue curacao a fun accent in cocktails like color-coordinated shots. It turns drinks into a bold rainbow.
Tropical Fruit Flavor
A splash of blue curacao adds a sweet candied orange, pineapple, mango or coconut flavor to tropical cocktails. It complements rum and tequila especially well.
Citrus Top Note
The fresh orange aroma makes blue curacao work nicely with citrus-forward drinks. It can embellish lemon, lime and grapefruit flavors.
Contrasting Bitter Element
A dash of blue curacao balances bitterness from liquors like Campari or bitters in cocktails like Negronis or Margaritas.
Smooth Sweetener
Because it’s so sweet, blue curacao tempers harsh or dry ingredients like bitter amari or vodka in long drinks.
Tiki Drink Ingredient
Blue curacao is integral to kitschy tiki bar favorites like the Blue Hawaiian. A little goes a long way in fruity tropical concoctions.
Decorator Liqueur
Bartenders may drizzle or float some blue curacao on top of cocktails for a dramatic look, like blues and oranges in a Tequila Sunrise.
So whether you’re looking to add a fun color pop or fruitiness, blue curacao livens up many classic and modern cocktails as more than just a garnish.
Popular Blue Curacao Cocktail Recipes
Blue curacao features in all kinds of creative cocktail recipes. Here are some of the most popular blue drink recipes that use curacao:
Blue Hawaiian
This tropical tiki classic combines rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut and blue curacao for a sweet blue ombre effect. Garnish with pineapple and maraschino cherries.
Blue Lagoon
Vodka, blue curacao and lemonade or Sprite create an ocean blue cocktail. Build in a tall glass over ice.
Kamikaze
Shake vodka, triple sec and lime juice with ice then strain into a chilled martini glass to make this bright blue shooter.
Electric Lemonade
For a fizzy lemon drop-style drink, mix vodka, blue curacao, lemon juice and lemon-lime soda.
Blue Margarita
Add some blue curacao to a classic margarita recipe for a fun new twist. Shake tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice with ice.
Green Geisha
Combine melon liqueur, vodka, blue curacao and lemonade for an aqua green cocktail. Garnish with melon balls or lemon slices.
Blue Breeze
In a tall glass, build gin, blue curacao, tonic water and lime wedges over ice for a tropical gin and tonic.
Blue Moon
To make this refreshing gin cocktail, shake gin, blue curacao, lemon juice and simple syrup with ice. Garnish with an orange twist.
Berry Blue Blast
Muddle blueberries with blue curacao, vodka and lemon juice, then shake and strain over crushed ice for a berry twist.
Is Blue Curacao the Same as Triple Sec?
Blue curacao and triple sec are often confused as being the same liqueur, but they are different products:
Base Ingredients
Triple sec is made from neutral grain spirit infused with orange peel, while blue curacao contains distilled Laraha citrus.
Flavor Profile
Triple sec has a cleaner, lighter orange flavor, while blue curacao is more intense and complex.
Sweetness
Triple sec tends to be drier, while blue curacao is quite sweet from added sugar.
Color
The biggest difference is color – triple sec is clear, while blue curacao is vivid blue.
Alcohol Content
Triple sec is usually between 30-40% ABV. Blue curacao can range from 15% to 40% ABV depending on style.
Origin
Triple sec originated in France, while blue curacao was invented in the Caribbean.
So in summary, blue curacao has a more distinctive flavor profile compared to the more generic triple sec. But in cocktails, they can often subsitute for one another.
Fun Facts About Blue Curacao
Beyond being a versatile cocktail mixer, blue curacao has some fascinating history and trivia behind it. Here are some interesting fun facts:
Originated in the 19th Century
Blue curacao liqueur was invented in the mid-1800s by the Senior family of distillers in Curaçao.
Was Originally Clear
The liqueur was transparent rather than blue when first made. Food coloring was added later to distinguish it from other curacaos.
Name Comes from the Island
Both “curacao” and “curaçao” refer to the island of Curaçao, where the key Laraha orange ingredient is locally grown.
Blue Protects the Flavor
Legend says the dye was added to protect the liquor’s flavor from sunlight. But this isn’t necessarily true.
“Forbidden Fruit” Flavor
Some food scientists say Brilliant Blue FCF has a faint “forbidden fruit” flavor profile when tasted on its own.
Used as an Antiseptic
Curacao’s high alcohol content made it useful as an antiseptic for cleaning wounds during World War I.
Ties to Royal Dutch Family
The Dutch royal family helped popularize curaçao liqueur in Europe after visiting the island in the 1800s.
Official Liqueur of Curaçao
In the early 1900s, curacao liqueur became recognized as the national liqueur of Curaçao.
Conclusion
Blue curacao may seem like nothing more than a novelty liquor thanks to its artificial color. But in fact, this electric blue liqueur has authentic roots in the Laraha citrus fruit of Curaçao. While dye provides the color, the distinctive sweet-tart orange flavor comes from a careful production process starting with sun-dried Laraha peels.
Though non-traditional, blue curacao adds a fun pop of color and fruity taste to cocktails. Its candy-like profile complements tropical flavors especially well. While often used as a decorative float, blue curacao can also impart subtle bitterness and herbal complexity.
So next time you enjoy a festive blue cocktail, appreciate the natural citrus origins and intricate production behind that unnaturally bright blue spirit. Just a dash of blue curacao transforms an ordinary drink into a visually stunning showpiece that also delivers rich orange flavor.
