What is a Liqueur? The Sweet Spot Between Wine and Spirits
A liqueur is essentially a sweetened spirit that's been infused with flavors—fruits, herbs, spices, or even chocolate. Unlike wine (fermented grapes) or straight spirits (pure distilled alcohol), liqueurs get their character from this flavor infusion process. In the US, liqueurs must contain at least 2.5% sugar by weight and have minimum 15% ABV to qualify legally.