Cordials vs Liqueurs

There seems to always be confusion when this topic is brought up to bartenders and I have yet to get a definitive answer. Is a liqueur the same thing as a cordial? Do they both contain alcohol? Can you have a non-alcoholic cordial?

After researching various websites and even The Cambridge Dictionary I was unable to get a definitive answer from any source. One source says “A liqueur, or cordial, is a sweetened distilled spirit.” This makes us believe they are identical, but that is not the case.

A cordial is often used when describing a sweeter distilled spirit than a traditional liqueur. Cordial can also be used to describe a nonalcoholic drink with higher sugar contents, such as a lime cordial or elderflower cordial. (Recipes Here!) Although, the use of a non-alcoholic cordial is more popular in the United Kingdom, there are some in the United States and Canada as well. The term cordial was originally used in medicinal practices and meant a type of sweet tonic that would aid in the recovery of sickness.

According to The Cambridge Dictionary:

Liqueur: [noun] a strong, sweet alcoholic drink that is usually drunk in small amounts at the end of a meal
Cordials: [noun] liqueur

A liqueur contains more sugar than a distilled spirit and is often used as a flavoring agent, rather than base spirit. The alcohol content of liqueurs are often much lower than liquors, but it is not a requirement. You can have a liqueur that’s the same alcohol percentage as the distilled liquor and still be able to call it a liqueur. To put is simply, a Liqueur is a liquor that has been flavored or sweetened. The term is often used as an interchangeable noun, except in the United Kingdom, where cordial can also refer to a nonalcoholic syrup heavy liquid.

 How is a liqueur made?

Liqueurs are made with a base liquor, which can range from anything from Gin to Rum to Vodka, etc. Sugar is then added with a mix of herbs, fruits, spices, vegetables and other additives to reach the desired taste. The methodology behind creating a liqueur is different and others may prefer specific methods, but the idea is the same all around. That idea is that all the ingredients are blended together somehow. The four most popular methods are: infusion, extraction, smoking, or distilling, all of which work equally as well if done correct. There are always numerous ways to create things and we encourage you to try you own method!