With its strikingly dark purple appearance, Crème de Violette will give a vibrant color to any cocktail it is incorporated into. This liqueur‘s sweet and floral flavor is reminiscent of violet candies of the early to mid 20th century.
If you are faced with a cocktail recipe like “The Blue Moon” or “Aviation,” you would have already realized that Crème de Violette is an essential ingredient for these cocktails. It would be pretty disappointing if you don’t have this liqueur at hand.
Crème de Violette is not readily available all the time; even in the United States, the product was nowhere to be found until mid-2007 when Haus Alpenz started importing the Winter Crème de Violette and Rothman.
If you still struggle to get your hands on a bottle of this liqueur, there are some viable liqueurs you should be familiar with. But first, let us take a closer look at Crème de Violette.
What is Crème De Violette?
Crème de Violette, also called liqueur de Violette, is a liqueur with violet flower flavoring and color. This flavor and color could either be natural or artificial, and the base is either brandy or a neutral spirit sometimes. It can be a combination of both.
Initially, it was created to be served on its own as a cordial or served with dry vermouth, but the present-day Crème de Violette is usually incorporated into cocktails. The earliest know production date goes as far back as the 19th century.
The demand for Crème de Violette was drastically reduced in the 20th century until some brands brought it back as a cocktail ingredient.
Uses of Crème De Violette in Recipes
This beautiful violet liqueur has an aromatic fragrance that perfectly goes well with the drink’s flavor. It is beautiful, vibrant, and sweet with a strong floral finish. You wouldn’t get to see many Aviation cocktail recipes that don’t call for Crème de Violette. It generally pairs well with sparkling wines and citrus-based drinks.
If you are not into cocktails like the rest of us, you can still grab a bottle of Crème de Violette because the purple liqueur can also be consumed on its own. I would also recommend mixing Crème de Violette with soda water if you don’t have sparkling wine. This would make the liqueur worth the time and money spent.
Below are some cocktail recipes that use anything from a splash to a few cups of Crème de Violette.
- ‘The Aviation’ Crème de Violette, gin and maraschino liqueur cocktail
- Crème de Violette spritzes AKA ‘Don’t fall off the roof and ruin the party.’
- Princess Violette cocktail
- Crème de Violette pink lemonade cocktail
- Blue moon cocktail
- Violet crumble cocktail
- Spring champagne cocktail – Champs the Violette
- Midnight sparkler
- Blackberry vodka martini
- A violet crush
- Violet lady cocktail
- Violette noir berry sangria
- Bella Luna
- The purple rain cocktail
- Dutch timidity
Substitutes for Crème De Violette
Are you stuck on a cocktail recipe that requires Crème de Violette? Who am I kidding? The fact that you are reading this article indicates so, well, if it makes you feel any better, I’ve also been in this horrible position myself, I couldn’t even get my hands on Crème de Violette, so I decided to avoid any cocktail recipe that called for this liqueur. Luckily, I learned about liqueurs that can easily substitute Crème de Violette in various recipes, so I tried them out, and the results were fantastic.
I would be sharing some of the best substitutes for Crème de Violette you can use in your recipe and how you can make the switch without ruining your cocktail.
Parfait Amour
Parfait d’Amour or parfait Amour is a liqueur often used as a cocktail ingredient because of its purple color. It has a base of curaçao liqueur, and it contains ingredients like almonds, orange peel, and vanilla.
While Crème de Violette has a floral flavor, parfait Amour has a more citrusy flavor with stronger hints of vanilla. Still, as for appearance, they both possess a stunning purple hue that would add that much-needed aesthetic to your cocktail.
So the next time you cannot get Crème de Violette, but you happen to find parfait Amour, do not hesitate to grab a bottle and substitute it using a 1 to 1 ratio.
Crème Yvette
Crème Yvette, also referred to as Crème Yvette, is also a liqueur often used as a cocktail ingredient. It is made from Parma violet petals with blackberries, red raspberries, wild strawberries, honey, orange peel, and vanilla. This creates a well-rounded fruity profile that complements the base spirit.
Crème Yvette doesn’t have that iconic purple color of Crème de Violette. Instead, you would get a vibrant red color. Well, this may not be a problem if you are trying to make cocktails at home. However, the only downside to using Crème Yvette is that it is pricey.
Violette Syrup
If you are not a fan of alcohol and love to make mocktails, then swapping in Violette syrup for Crème de Violette would be an excellent option. It is made from violet petals and essential oils, and just like Crème de Violette, it also delivers a floral flavor to your cocktail, but this time with hints of rose and lavender.
Aside from making cocktails, Violette syrup can also add some floral notes to baked goods, and the best part of this syrup is that it is a cheaper alternative to Crème de Violette.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use purple food coloring in place of Crème de Violette?
Well, if you only want the purple color that comes with Crème de Violette, you can use food coloring in place of the liqueur. This is another way to achieve the purple effect without adding alcohol for alcohol intolerant.
What volume of alcohol is inCrème de Violette?
Crème de Violette liqueurs have significant alcoholic contents mainly because of the spirit or brandy base, and the Rothman and Winter Crème de Violette is 20% ABV.
How long can Crème de Violette be stored?
Just like most liqueurs, opened Crème de Violette can be stored for more than six months or a year; it all depends on the alcohol content.
Conclusion
Crème de Violette is a very pretty liqueur with violet color. It is usually incorporated into cocktails because of the aesthetic it brings. However, if you can’t get Crème de Violette, some adequate liqueurs can get the job done.