Nadia George
February 21, 2024
Curacao is essentially an orange liqueur made from the citrusy tropical fruit laraha, found in the Caribbean. It is widely used in cocktail craft and mixologists often incorporate the bitter and citrusy elements of this drink to introduce complexity into their mixes.
Contrary to popular notion, the ingredients in both curacaos are quite similar, meaning the amount of bitters in both drinks is the same. Still, the liquor used in producing orange curacao is slightly more in proportion than the blue variant making it just a tad bit more potent.
Blue curacao adds a stunning pop of colour to Hawaiian or tropical recipes, the orange-coloured liqueur introduces some warm and intense hues into drinks that would resemble a glorious sunrise. As well, drinks which require a slightly boozier kick are more often than not made from orange curacao whereas the blue variant is used to give drinks a slightly balanced texture.
Since the alcohol content in blue curacao is slightly lower than the orange version, it is slightly sweeter than the latter. While both carry identical citrusy notes, the sweetness in the blue curacao definitely gives an elevated oomph to any cocktail.
The absence of brandy in the blue curacao also reduces the spirit concentration and intensity of the liqueur and ensures that it retains its oceanic, blue colour. The addition of brandy to the orange liqueur gives it an added bitter note that makes the citrus drink appear as a rather complex blend.
While non-alcoholic versions of the curacao have become exceedingly popular over time, the blue curacao has trumped as the most appealing option and is used widely to craft ice cream and soda floats that sing because of the presence of the citrusy blue.