DIY Orange Liqueur Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does homemade orange liqueur last? ›

Your homemade orange liqueur does not need to be refrigerated. It can last for a year, but is best when used within a few months.

Steps to Make It

Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from two navel oranges. In a 1-quart jar, add the vodka, fresh orange peel, and dried bitter orange peel. Seal, shake well, and let infuse in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks (or up to 1 month), shaking the jar every day or two.

Orange liqueurs may use a base that is a neutral grain spirit (similar to vodka), rum, or brandy. The orange flavor often comes from dried orange peels or orange essential oil, though that's not always the case. They generally range from 30 percent alcohol by volume (ABV, 60 proof) to 40 percent ABV (80 proof).

While Grand Marnier and Cointreau are brand names of specific products, Triple Sec is actually a category in and of itself. Many brands make Triple Sec — in fact, Cointreau itself is a triple sec. The alcohol content in different types of Triple Sec vary quite a bit – from about 15 percent to as much as 40 percent.

3 Some bottles do better in the fridge

Perhaps you could add some of your liqueurs, sherries, mead and vermouths to that. You can extend the shelf life of vermouth from three weeks up to six months simply by storing it in the fridge. Liqueurs that are made from a spirit base can be stored at room temperature.

Blue Curaçao is basically an ordinary Curaçao liqueur, colored Blue. However, usually the Blue version has a lower alcohol percentage between 20% and 25% as its main function is coloring.

Generally, 1-2 cups of sugar per gallon of orange juice is a good starting point. Next, add the yeast to the mixture. The yeast will kick-start the fermentation process by converting the sugar in the orange juice into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

The main point of difference between a curaçao and a triple sec is that curaçaos usually have additional herbs and spices, making them softer and rounder, while triple sec is purely orange flavoured.

Perhaps the two most famous brands of orange liqueur are Grand Marnier and Cointreau, and you might be wondering where they fit in to this taxonomy. Simple. Grand Marnier is an orange liqueur in the curaçao tradition, and Cointreau is a triple sec.

With a plethora of subpar triple secs on the market, the category is often looked down upon and associated with a cloying, unnatural flavor. That said, there are superb triple secs on the market, like Cointreau and Combier, both of which claim to be the world's first triple sec producer.

What is a dupe for orange liqueur? ›

Bruised: When a co*cktail or martini has be over shaken and pieces of ice and oxygen bubble forms. This results in a cloudy or murky looking co*cktail.

If you don't have triple sec handy, you can substitute with another good-quality orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau. For a non-alcoholic substitute you can add fresh orange juice, or agave nectar/simple syrup, to add a touch of sweetness.

No need for triple sec here—the honey does all the sweetening for you. And with that sugary coating out of the picture, your tongue gets a full tour of what we're really here for: tequila and lime. (If you still miss that orange note, add a splash of orange bitters or a twist of a peel to finish!)

Strain your infusion using a fine mesh strainer.

Store in its original jar (it's already labeled!) or a clean glass bottle in the refrigerator. Infused spirits are best enjoyed within three months, but they will never go bad. See our co*cktail recipes for ideas on how to use your infused alcohol.

If you're a fan of orange juice, store-bought options don't compare to the rich tanginess of the juice straight from the source. But there's one catch; freshly squeezed orange juice doesn't have a long shelf-life. Homemade orange juice keeps for about two to three days in the refrigerator.

The liqueurs will have the best flavor after a few months of sitting on the shelf (aging). They will begin to lose their bright color and some flavor after one year but they will not “go bad” because the alcohol is the preservative. I usually have no problem using them up within one year.

More whiskey, the longer it will last, but I still wouldn't expect it to last more than a week or two. If it's a neutral drink like water or soda, then it should last as long as the whiskey itself as long as there are no impurities. What is the shelf life of eggnog and liquor if kept in the refrigerator?