Cocktails with Crème de Violette liqueur
Crème de violette is a sweet, purple-to-blue liqueur made by macerating violet flowers in brandy, neutral spirit, or a blend of the two.
ABV20–25%
Substitutes for Crème de Violette liqueur
Vodka with violet syrup
Mix two parts vodka and one part syrup. It matches the liqueur closely in strength and sugar, bringing the flower and color.
Parfait d’Amour or Crème Yvette
In the same measure they give the color, but with a fruitier, less floral taste.
Violet syrup
Roughly three to five times as sweet, so use a third of the measure.
Without violet
In an Aviation you can leave it out. The drink loses its color and floral note but stays balanced.
On the label
- “crème de”
- Nothing to do with cream. EU rules set a minimum of 250 grams of sugar per liter for anything sold as crème de, and it is that sugar, not dairy, that gives the syrupy weight.
- color
- The color is added: crème de violette is tinted to match the flower, which is why the shade varies so much between brands.
