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
Violet is the whole reason it is in the glass, and no other flower stands in for it. Color comes with the flavor here, so a drink built on the shade loses both at once.
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 violet is added. Crème de violette is colored to match the flower it is flavored with, which is why the shade varies so much between brands.
Often confused with
Parfait d’Amour / Crème Yvette
Crème de violette is essentially one-dimensional violet, while Parfait d’Amour and Crème Yvette layer violet with vanilla, citrus or, for Crème Yvette, berry. Either of them makes an Aviation sweeter and busier, and the clean floral line the drink is known for goes.
Violet syrup with a neutral spirit
