Creme de mure (more formally called créme de mûre) is also known as blackberry liqueur, and it’s a special berry liqueur that exclusively features the flavor of blackberries. Read on to learn all about this unique cordial, including recommended brands, how to use it in your drinks at home, and if it’s worth keeping it stocked in your home bar!
When you’ve spent over a decade making drinks at home, you get to know lots of different kinds of alcohol. Liqueurs are a type of alcohol that are lower in alcohol by volume, or ABV, containing about 15-30% ABV in general.
🤨 what is creme de mure?
💜 berry-packed. This liqueur is made from infusing blackberries in alcohol, so it is packed full of berry flavor.
🍭 sweet. The key difference with liqueurs and infused liquor is the addition of sugar. This gives a balance of flavor to an otherwise overpowering infusion!
🍷 aromatic. The complex flavors of the berries bring a full-bodied boquet of flavors and aromas, adding a deep flavor to any berry cocktail!
🥛 why is it called “créme” if there is no dairy in it?
While there are tons of liqueurs that are also called “cream liqueurs” because they do, in fact, contain cream, créme de mûre is not one of them. Instead, the term comes from the consistency of the liqueur, which is thicker and more syrupy. Legally, in France, for any liqueur to be called a “créme,” it has to contain a certain amount of sugar per volume (usually 250g per litre). The purpose of liqueurs is two-fold: they flavor and they sweeten.
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🔀 how is creme de mure different from other liqueurs?
The lines can get a little blurry when you’re talking (or drinking) liqueurs. 😵💫 I can’t tell you how often I come across other people who share that créme de mûre is the same thing as Chambord or créme de cassis. I’m here to tell you that is NOT THE CASE. They are similar, sure, but here are the details about the differences:
- créme de mûre – this liqueur is made with blackberries, and ONLY blackberries. The berries are steeped in a neutral grain alcohol and then strained out. The infusion is mixed with a sugar syrup to create the final liqueur. If you’re thinking “huh…that sounds easily enough to make!” You’re right! It is! 😏
- créme de cassis – this liqueur is made in a similar manner to créme de mûre, except it uses black currants instead of blackberries.
- Chambord – this is a specialty liqueur made in the Loire Valley of France from a blend of raspberries, cognac, and other flavoring ingredients.
- blackberry wine liqueur – some recipes out there use a red wine as the base of their “créme de mûre.” This is not a true créme de mûre, it’s a blackberry wine liqueur, which can also be called a blackberry liqueur.
- blackberry brandy – this liqueur is made by combining a neutural grain alcohol with blackberries, sugar, brandy, and sometimes red wine. As you can imagine, the flavor of the brandy and wine impacts the final taste of the liqueur, so it’s not purely blackberry.
💰 popular brands & price of creme de mure
Specialty liqueurs like créme de mûre can be a bit difficult to find locally, but there are quite a few brands available. Sometimes, it’s worth asking your local store if they are able to special order it for you. On average, you can expect to spend between $20 – $35 for a bottle. Here are some recommended brands to look for:
- Combier
- Drillaud
- Giffard
- Josephy Cartron
- Merlet
🍹 drinks & recipes using creme de mure
Blackberry liqueur adds rich, deep, and jammy flavors to any cocktail you add it to. It’s especially great in seasonal summer and fall cocktails that feature fresh berries.
- bramble – this gin-based drink uses a floater of blackberry liqueur to play off the botanical flavors of gin.
- bourbon bramble – this recipe is a bourbon variation of the classic gin bramble, and it’s perfect for a warm summer night!
- rum runner – this tropical tiki classic rum cocktail features a blend of rum, liqueur, and fruit juices.
- blackberry kir or blackberry kir royale – a kir cocktail is a mix of crisp dry white wine and créme de cassis. This version uses blackberry liqueur in place of the black currant liqueur. When you use champagne instead of white wine, it becomes a kir royale! 👑
- blackberry martini – this vodka-based martini is a play on the classic French martini, which combines the flavors of pineapple and black currant.
🧯alcohol safety
Alcohol is a highly regulated substance because of its mild-altering capabilities. Therefore, it’s important to understand your own personal relationship and limitations relating to alcohol use and consumption.
- Always adhere to legal drinking ages and adhere to local alcohol laws. In the United States, the legal age for consuming alcohol is 21 years old.
- Always consume alcohol in moderation.