If you’ve ever had a vivid blue drink, you may be wondering what makes it so vibrant. The answer is almost certainly Blue Curacao.

But what happens if you don’t have any? How can you reproduce its citrus flavor, alcohol level, and blue tint in homemade cocktails?

Let’s look at some of the greatest Blue Curacao replacements and talk about how to construct some beautiful cocktails using Blue Curacao or one of its counterparts.

What Is Blue Curacao?

The Senior family originally made what is now known as the real Curacao Liqueur in 1896. Original Curacao is naturally transparent and is colored with food coloring.

Curacao is available in a variety of colors, including green, red, and orange, but Blue Curacao is the most well-known.

Blue curacao comprises 31% ABV and has a sweet orange peel flavor with a somewhat bitter aftertaste.

Its distinct taste, which you won’t find in other orange liqueurs, is derived from the Laraha orange, a citrus fruit native to the Caribbean island of Curacao.

While the particular Lahara flavor is what sets this drink apart, there are a few replacements that will also provide that zesty bittersweet smell. So, shall we meet them all?

Blue Curacao Substitutes

1. Curacao Clear Liqueur
2. Combier Triple Sec
3. Grand Marnier
4. Cointreau LUnique
5. Clement Creole Shrubb

Curacao Clear Liqueur

The greatest alternative for its blue cousin is clear Curacao. Why? Because it is essentially the same alcohol, just colorless.

As previously stated, the essence of this liqueur is the Lahara orange. That is what gives it its lovely zesty orange fragrance with floral overtones. The taste is a great blend of sweet and zesty, much like the aroma.

Aside from the absence of blue, this liqueur will offer your drink with the same enticing zesty orange scent and delicate sweetness.

If you must have a blue beverage, you can always purchase blue food coloring.

Combier Triple Sec

Combier Triple Sec is the best Blue Curacao alternative after Clear Curacao liqueur.

Jean-Baptiste and Josephine Combier produced the first batch of Triple Sec in France in 1834, resulting in the founding of the Combier firm.

This orange liqueur smells faintly like Brazil nuts and is flavored with orange blossoms, orange zest, and lemons. It has a syrupy, dry citrus flavor with a sweet aftertaste.

Combiers Triple Sec lacks the traditional blue colour of Blue Curacao but has a higher ABV (40%).

Because of the increased alcohol level of Combier, you’ll probably want to use less of it in the drinks and just add blue food coloring.

Grand Marnier

Grand Marnier is a French citrus liqueur that enhances everything it comes into contact with.

Marnier, Louis-Alexandre In 1880, Lapostolle created Grand Marnier. He came up with the idea of blending French cognac with exotic bitter oranges, and he hit a home run.

The Grand Marnier smells strongly of citrus, with hints of spice and flowery notes. It has a deeper, more complex taste than Cointreau, with zingy bitter orange notes, marmalade and vanilla undertones, and a smooth honey texture.

It also has a greater ABV (40%) than Blue Curacao. What really distinguishes it is its beautiful golden hue.

It is an effective substitute for Blue Curacao because to its powerful citrus aroma, but it lacks the distinctive blue tint.

Cointreau L’Unique

Cointreau is a wonderful French orange liqueur that every home mixologist should have on hand in case Blue Curacao runs out.

It smells like fresh mandarins and oranges with a spicy honey undertone. The taste is best characterized as lemony and refined, with spicy, nutmeg, and cinnamon overtones.

Cointreau is also available in a transparent version with 40% ABV, thus it will accept any shade of blue food coloring.

You may detect hotter tones with this option than with Curacao, but they will not necessarily detract from the taste of your drink.

Rhum Clement Creole Shrubb

Rhum Clement Creole Shrubb is the last but not least of our orange spirits collection.

The Shrubb stands apart in a few of ways. It includes Rhum Agricole, a Martinique rum made from pure sugarcane juice rather than molasses. The zest, bittersweet orange taste, and combination of spices, honey, and vanilla sent it over the top.

It has a 40% ABV and a medium gold color. Mix this distinctive rhum with less Blue Curacao and keep its color in mind while making a vibrant cocktail.

Citrusy Liqueur Cocktail Ideas

These delectable drinks conjure up images of the happiest and sunniest summer evenings. They’re excellent for a pre-club warm-up or a cocktail party at home.

The original recipes call for Blue Curacao, but if you don’t have any, feel free to replace one of the choices on our list. Let’s get this party started!

Swimming Pool Cocktail

Cocktail Ingredients:

• oz (25ml) Blue Curacao;
• oz (15ml) pineapple juice;
• oz (25ml) white rum;
• 4 oz (115g) pineapple chunks;
• cup (25ml) coconut rum;
• 8 oz (225g) crushed ice;
• 2 oz (55g) coconut syrup;

Coconut Syrup Ingredients:

• 5 oz (140g) coconut cream;
• cup (35g) unsweetened coconut shavings;
• 5 oz (140g) granulated sugar;

Garnishing Ingredients:

• tsp coconut shavings;
• 1 pineapple leaf;
• tsp brown sugar;

Prep time: 17 minutes

To begin, make the toasted coconut syrup. In a small saucepan over low heat, toast the coconut shavings for approximately 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat to medium and mix in the coconut cream and granulated sugar. Stir for another 2 minutes, then strain the syrup into a glass jar and refrigerate it overnight.

Pour Blue Curacao or your preferred substitute into a glass. Then, in a blender, combine the remaining drink ingredients and blend until smooth. Fill the glass halfway with ice and garnish with a pineapple leaf, coconut shavings, and half a teaspoon of brown sugar.

Blue Pinata Cocktail

Cocktail Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30ml) Blue Curacao;
• oz (30ml) fresh lime juice;
• oz (15ml) pineapple juice;
• 1 oz (30g) tamarind syrup;
• 1 oz (50ml) pineapple-infused rum;
• oz (25ml) canned chickpea liquid
• 2 dashes ( tsp) angostura bitters;
• 1 cup (140g) crushed ice;

Tamarind Syrup Syrup Ingredients:

• 1 cup (225g) tamarind pulp;
• 1 cup (240ml) water;
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar;

Garnishing Ingredients:

• 1 dehydrated pineapple wheel;
• cup (50g) rainbow sugar;
• 1 pineapple leaf;
• 1 orange peel;

Prep time: 15 minutes

To begin, make the tamarind syrup. In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the tamarind pulp and water to a boil for 3-5 minutes.

After adding the sugar, continue to boil for 30 seconds. After filtering out the tamarind solids, chill it in a glass container.

To make the drink, combine all of the ingredients except the canned chickpea juice in a shaker and vigorously shake to combine.

To remove the ice, pour into a big glass. Then, return the drink to the shaker and add the canned chickpea juice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

Make a rainbow sugar dish. Dab the rim of the glass with tamarind syrup and then with rainbow sugar. Fill the glass halfway with crushed ice and top with angostura bitters.

Finally, pour the drink into the glass and garnish with a pineapple wheel, a pineapple leaf, and a lemon twist.

The Black Forest Cocktail

Cocktail Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30ml) Blue Curacao;
• 1 oz (45ml) gin;
• oz (25ml) grenadine;
• oz (25ml) fresh lemon juice;
• oz (15g) rich simple syrup;
• 1 cup (140g) crushed ice;

Rich Syrup Syrup Ingredients:

• 2 cups (200g) granulated sugar;
• 1 cup (240ml) water;

Garnishing Ingredients:

• tsp pink peppercorn;
• 2 sprigs (divided) fresh thyme;

Prep time: 5 minutes

Bring the water and sugar to a boil over high heat to begin creating the simple syrup.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for another 2 minutes. The syrup should now be poured into a glass jar and put aside to cool. If you’re pressed for time, you may also prepare the Black Forest using store-bought simple syrup.

Fill a shaker halfway with ice, squeeze the lemon, and add all of the cocktail components. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, or until well combined.

Pour the cocktail over the remaining ice in a glass and garnish with the pink peppercorn and fresh thyme.

Papa Smurf Cocktail

Cocktail Ingredients:

• 1 oz (1ml) Blue Curacao;
• oz (15ml) sloe berry vodka;
• 1 oz (60ml) apple juice;
• oz (15g) rich simple syrup;
• oz (25ml) fresh lemon juice;
• 1 cup (140ml) crushed ice;

Rich Simple Syrup Ingredients:

• 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar;
• 1 cup (240ml) water;

Garnishing Ingredients:

• 1 orange peel;
• 4 apple slices;

Prep time: 12 minutes

Bring sugar and water to a boil over high heat for the simple syrup. Cook for a further 2 minutes, with the heat decreased to medium-low.

Place in a glass jar and set aside to cool. This beverage, like the last one, may be made even faster by utilizing store-bought simple syrup.

To make the cocktail, combine all of the ingredients (excluding the vodka) in a shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds.

In a tumbler, pour the strained liquor over ice and top with the sloe berry vodka.

Finish by adding the ornamental items specified above to the drink.

Conclusion

If your inner bartender is craving a zesty flavor combination but you don’t have Blue Curacao on hand, you now know what substitutes to seek for.

If you wish to savor the scent of Lahara oranges in your drink, use Clear Curacao. If not, use Combier Triple Sec or Cointreau instead. You can make the same blue drinks as Blue Curacao using a little blue food coloring.

amber, and will not provide the same outcomes as clear liqueurs. Use these replacements if you want a comparable flavor but not so much for the appearance. Have a good time!However, since Rhum Clement Creole Shrubb and Grand Marnier are golden, we do not recommend combining them with blue food coloring. People also enjoy Best Substitute for Kosher Salt