The Making of Blue Curacao: A Caribbean Delight!

The vibrant hue of Blue Curaçao liquor instantly conjures images of the Caribbean’s shimmering tropical waters, making it a sought-after ingredient in exotic cocktails. Rooted in the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao, this liquor has become a cultural staple, adding depth and flavor to the island experience.

Dreaming of beachside cocktails on your next Caribbean escape? Chances are, Blue Curaçao will feature in your glass. But before you sip, explore its distinctive taste, the process behind its creation, and its cultural significance in the Caribbean.

How Blue Curaçao is Made

The making of Blue Curaçao involves a meticulous process centered around the aromatic laraha citrus fruit. Unique to Curaçao, this fruit—a descendant of the Valencia orange—thrives on the island’s sun-soaked terrain. Only the peel is used, prized for its rich aroma.

To produce the liquor, laraha peels are first soaked in water, then distilled with alcohol and sugar. The result? The sweet, orange-flavored liquor that many have come to know and love!

The Distillation Process: Crafting the Perfect Liquor

When it comes to Blue Curaçao, the first part of the distillation process involves extracting the aromatic essence from the orange peels. In order to do this, the peels need to be dried. This is necessary to concentrate their essential oils. Once this is done, the peels are then infused in a base spirit, typically made from sugarcane, to extract the oils. Distillation follows, and this is a meticulous art. Blending and sweetening are just as crucial. Coloring follows closely afterward, and then bottling. The whole process can take 3-6 weeks from start to finish.

Good to know: Blue Curaçao can be used to substitute a Triple Sec in a cocktail recipe.

The Coloring Process: Why Blue?

Whether you’ve ordered Blue Curaçao for yourself or seen it being delivered to your table while out with friends, you might have wondered, why blue? Fascinatingly enough, Blue Curaçao at the very base is not blue. The blue coloring is an add on, and most often this comes from food coloring (Brilliant Blue). This is purely for aesthetic reasons, and the blue color is one of the first things people recognize when it comes to cocktail made with Blue Curaçao. It is not uncommon to see natural dyes being used in the production process. The coloring does not change the flavor, just the tropical imagery this liquor calls to mind!

How It Tastes

Blue lagoon, Electric Smurf, or even just Blue Curaçao on the rocks. This liquor tastes different based on how it is served. Try it on its own and what you’ll have is an orange flavored liquor that’s mildly sweet with a subtle bitter finish. The bitterness is said to be from the essential oils found in the peel of the laraha oranges. Unlike sweet oranges, the laraha does not store enough sugar to counterbalance its natural bitterness. Interestingly, the fruit is inedible as it’s just so bitter, but the peels are invaluable in the production of Blue Curaçao liquor.

Blue Curaçao is commonly mixed with vodka, rum, or tequila. Sometimes, it’s even mixed with lemonade for a tropical twist. At the very base of it all, this liquor has a flavor profile complete with sweet, bitter and citrusy notes. It often used to give cocktails a vibrant blue hue. There are many cocktails that feature Blue Curaçao including…

The Historical Significance of Blue Curaçao

As history tells it, when the Dutch started colonizing the Americas, they took over the small island of Curaçao, just north of Venezuela. They are said to have taken orange trees with them, which did not fare well with the heat. The oranges got very bitter, but the peels were very aromatic. Later on, the peels were used to make liquor. Blue coloring and other elements were added, resulting in the Blue Curaçao of today.

Blue Curaçao in Caribbean Festivals and Celebrations

Caribbean festivities like carnival tend to include cocktails and rum of all varieties. This includes the popular Blue Curaçao which is used in some of the most popular cocktails. This drink is a staple at parties and gatherings in the Caribbean and it is loved for its versatility and tropical flair. Whether you plan on attending local festivities or spending lots of time poolside in the islands, Blue Curaçao can certainly help to brighten your day!

Blue Curaçao’s Influence on Modern Cocktails

From the Blue Curaçao Martini to the Blue Margarita, the influence of Blue Curaçao is far reaching in the islands. Bartenders in the Caribbean have embraced this liquor over the years incorporating it into unique creations and jazzing up traditional favorites as well. Even today, new cocktail creations featuring Blue Curaçao are still be added to menus all over the world, the Caribbean included. This has much to do with its bold flavor and color and the versatility that comes with it!

Pairing Blue Curaçao: Food and Drink Combinations

Best Food Pairings to Enjoy with Blue Curaçao

Blue Curaçao certainly is a conversation starter! This cool blue liquor can be enjoyed with just about any meal, but there are a few dishes that really pair well. These include light seafood dishes, tropical fruits, and desserts like cheesecake. The sweetness of this liquor is really what helps with the pairings, and cocktail in hand, you can look forward to a flavorful dining experience in the islands!

Creative Cocktail Recipes to Try at Home

Enjoyed the flavors of Blue Curaçao cocktails during your vacation and want to share with friends or family? You can start by making your own Blue Curaçao at home! All you’ll need is blue food coloring, simple food syrup, and orange liquor.

First, use 1 ¾ cups of simple syrup. Then, add some blue food coloring. Start with just a touch, can make a little darker. About a quarter teaspoon works. Place it into simple syrup, get a whisk and stir. Get it to your desired color, then add orange liquor. Again, 1 ¾ of a cup. Mix well. This should make about 750ml of Blue Curaçao. Compare your creation to the actual Blue Curaçao to see if you’ve got the color right. Once you’re satisfied, get a bottle, funnel, and slowly pour. Keep in mind that the mixture can strain, so pour carefully.

Blue Curaçao cocktails

There are loads of different Blue Curaçao cocktails you can make at home. This includes the Blue Curaçao Mojito, Blue Curaçao Margarita, the Beach Water Cocktail and more. Here are a couple recipes that you can try at home:

Blue Curaçao Mojito

Ingredients:

2 oz Blue Curaçao
1 oz white rum
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
Soda water
Fresh mint leaves
Ice cubes

Instructions:

Muddle mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup in a glass.
Add ice, rum, and Blue Curaçao.
Top with soda water and stir gently.
Garnish with mint leaves and a lime slice.

Beach Water Cocktail with Blue Curaçao

Ingredients:

2 oz Blue Curaçao
1 oz coconut rum
4 oz pineapple juice
1 oz soda water or sparkling water
Ice cubes

Instructions:

Fill a glass with ice.
Add Blue Curaçao, coconut rum, and pineapple juice.
Stir and top with soda water.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge or a cherry.

Blue Curaçao Margarita

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz Blue Curaçao
1 oz tequila
1 oz triple sec
1 oz fresh lime juice
Ice cubes
Coarse salt (for the rim)

Instructions:

Run a lime wedge along the rim of a margarita glass and dip it into salt.
In a shaker, combine Blue Curaçao, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and ice. Shake well.
Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with a lime wheel.

Blue Curaçao – Taste of the Dutch Caribbean

Caribbean vacations are made even better by good food, lively music, and exceptional cocktails. When you bring all of this together, chances are high that you’ll have a vacation you’ll remember for a long time to come. Add Blue Curaçao to the mix, and what you have is a vacation that’s filled with island delights as you take in the essence of the Caribbean.

As we touched on in this post, Blue Curaçao’s legacy continues to live on in the islands. This can be seen through its history and how the liquor has been embraced with both traditional and modern cocktails. With a unique flavor and deep cultural roots, this is a liquor that you can enjoy whether you’re lounging by the beach or at a swim-up bar in your all-inclusive resort in Curaçao. And once you take a sip, you’ll know for certain that Blue Curaçao is not just as a drink, but part of the vibrant heritage of the islands!