What could be better than blending rich chocolate with a luxury spirit for the ultimate post-dinner tipple? The best chocolate liqueur brands combine mouthwatering cacao with rich cream and a generous shot of alcohol.
We dive into nine of the best chocolate liqueurs that can be sipped straight, used in cocktails, or added to desserts or coffee for extra chocolate deliciousness.
Whichever way you prefer, these will satisfy your craving for rich, creamy decadence. Welcome to chocolate heaven!
- Best Chocolate Liqueurs
- 1. Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur
- 2. De Kuyper Creme De Cacao Brown Liqueur
- 3. Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
- 4. Baileys Chocolat Luxe
- 5. Giffard Creme De Cacoa White Liqueur
- 6. Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Chocolate Cream
- 7. Bouvery CV Chocolate Liqueur
- 8. FAIR. Cacao Liqueur
- 9. Bottega Gianduia Fondente Crema di Cioccolato
- Ingrid’s Top Pick
- Conclusion
- Chocolate Liqueur Q&A
- Further Reading
Best Chocolate Liqueurs
The best chocolate liqueurs are delicious when sipped neat, add decadence to a cocktail, and elevate desserts. Here are 9 to consider.
1. Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Mozart Distillerie
- ABV: 17% (34 Proof)
- Country: Austria
- Colour: Deep Brown
Review
A handcrafted chocolate liqueur made in Austria with the finest ingredients of West African cocoa, bourbon vanilla from Madagascar, and decadent Belgian chocolate.
These delicious ingredients are mixed with sugar beet spirit, making this liqueur a composition of complementary notes.
On The Nose
Smooth cocoa, creamy vanilla, and brown sugar aromas.
On The Palate
A mouthful of rich and creamy Belgian chocolate sweetened with hints of vanilla and a lingering alcohol kick on the deliciously smooth finish.
Best Served
Enjoy neat, or in a magnificent Chocolate Espresso Martini, shaken with vodka and cold espresso poured over ice, topped with a layer of cream, and garnished with ground coffee beans.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. De Kuyper Creme De Cacao Brown Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: De Kuyper
- ABV: 20% (40 Proof)
- Country: Netherlands
- Colour: Dark Chocolate Brown
Review
An eleven-generation family-owned company founded by Petrus de Kuyper in 1695 has evolved into a distillery granted Royal designation by Queen Beatrix in 1995.
This liqueur is made with African cacao and Madagascan vanilla and was awarded the ISC ‘liqueur producer of the year’ title in 2022 (for the 4th time).
On The Nose
The intense chocolate aromas, sweet caramel and a slight nuttiness.
On The Palate
Rich and creamy chocolate with hints of caramel undertones softening the slight bitterness of cacao. A soft note of vanilla-laced chocolate ensures a warm finish.
Best Served
You can enjoy this as a simple nightcap savoured straight or poured over ice rocks.
Also, try it in a Boston Cream Pie Martini, a dessert and liqueur all in one. Served with a tot of vodka, shaken over ice to cool, poured into a martini glass, and then topped with a swirl of cream garnished with cacao powder plus a red cherry.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Godiva
- ABV: 15% (30 Proof)
- Country: Belgium
- Colour: Deep Brown
Review
Founded in 1926, the Belgium Master Chocolatiers of Godiva are famed for their decadent chocolates. How about trying their luscious Dark Chocolate Liqueur made with natural ingredients?
On The Nose
An intense aroma of rich chocolate dominates, with a hint of vanilla and orange peel.
On The Palate
Rich chocolate upfront with hints of vanilla and orange peel mid-palate. The finish is smooth. I found this is a little too watery (rather than creamy) compared to others on this list, so best for mixing and recipes.
Best Served
Serve Godiva chocolate liqueur in a decadent Grand Martini cocktail with a dash of Grand Marnier liqueur served in a chilled glass with a Godiva truffle as decoration.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Baileys Chocolat Luxe
Overview
- Distiller: Baileys
- ABV: 15.7% (31.4 Proof)
- Country: Ireland
- Colour: Velvety Milk Chocolate Brown
Review
A brand that needs no introduction, Baileys has created Chocolat Luxe. This new addition to the collection takes decadence to a new dimension of indulgence, combining Irish cream, Belgian chocolate, and fine Irish whiskey.
On The Nose
Rich Belgian chocolate, Irish cream, smooth whiskey
On The Palate
Rich and creamy chocolate up front, hints of vanilla, and plenty of Irish whiskey flavours mid-palate. The rich, sweet, chocolaty finish brings a slightly bitter cacao kick.
Best Served
Baileys Chocolat Luxe should be enjoyed chilled or served over crushed ice for a decadent after-dinner drink or accompaniment to rich, creamy ice cream.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Giffard Creme De Cacoa White Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Giffard
- ABV: 25% (50 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Clear
Review
Giffard is a fifth-generation owned and run family business using traditional processes, including maceration of the fruits, blending, infusion, and filtration, to uphold what Emile Giffard started in 1885.
Don’t be fooled by this clear liqueur; it provides an incredible chocolate experience and will not (hopefully) stain your clothes!
On The Nose
Intense dark chocolate notes and the faint background of coffee are coated with whiffs of vanilla and caramel.
On The Palate
Opens with flavours of dark chocolate and gentle traces of coffee. Mid-palate reveals caramel and vanilla that fades into a creamy chocolate finish.
Best Served
Best enjoyed in a 1920s cocktail creation called the Grasshopper for a sensory confusion of colour and taste with peppermint and milk chilled in a cocktail shaker and poured into a coupe glass garnished with a sprig of mint.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Chocolate Cream
Overview
- Distiller: Hotel Chocolat
- ABV: 12% (24 Proof)
- Country: Ireland
- Colour: Creamy Chocolate Brown
Review
British chocolatier and cacao grower Angus Thirlwell blends signature chocolates from Hotel Chocolat into a decadent creamy liqueur mixed with a cacao-infused vodka base and sweet cream.
On The Nose
Rich wafts of dark cacao, chocolate ice cream, and contrasting creamy notes on the nose.
On The Palate
The smooth and incredibly rich cacao has a creamy texture. It is soothed by a blanket of delicious cream and warm boozy vodka undertones. Perfect for a special occasion!
Best Served
Trust me; this is too good to use as a mixer; this beauty is best enjoyed neat over ice as a deliciously smooth after-dinner digestif.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. Bouvery CV Chocolate Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: Bouvery CV
- ABV: 16% (32 Proof)
- Country: United States
- Colour: Deep Brown
Review
A humble beginning that started in the home of Danny Bouvery by experimenting with ingredients to create a liqueur that became an NYC party favourite.
Made from gluten-free corn vodka blended with organic Fair Trade cocoa, the 4-times distilled formula took six years to develop and perfect.
On The Nose
Luxurious chocolate aromas are soothed by delicate hints of vanilla.
On The Palate
Decadent liquid chocolate swirls on the tongue, and delicate vanilla spiked with sweet cooking spice and cream mid-palate. The finish is as smooth as the start, with the merest hint of alcohol.
Best Served
Try the Ludlow Flame, where chocolate liqueur meets a splash of bourbon with a dribble of mole bitters and Ancho Reyes. Then chill over a rock ice cube and stir with flaming red chilli pepper. Ouch!
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
8. FAIR. Cacao Liqueur
Overview
- Distiller: FAIR.
- ABV: 22% (44 Proof)
- Country: France
- Colour: Deep Brown
Review
Organic fair trade and certified cacao nibs are sourced from Peru to infuse into a vodka-based spirit. Slowly and progressively adding Fair trade liquid sugar, the product is reduced with natural cocoa extracts.
On The Nose
Intense aromas of rich cocoa and a moreish nuttiness.
On The Palate
The first sip is semi-sweet but rich dark chocolate dusted with black pepper that builds in bitterness. A spicy lingering bitter chocolate finish also has a higher alcohol content than others on this list.
Best Served
FAIR Cacao Liqueur can be enjoyed neat over some ice as a digestive or, better yet, served drizzled over ice cream with half a shot of espresso for the perfect end to the meal.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
9. Bottega Gianduia Fondente Crema di Cioccolato
Overview
- Distiller: Bottega
- ABV: 17% (34 Proof)
- Country: Italy
- Colour: Hazelnut
Review
Gianduia chocolate was created by pastry chefs in 1806 in Piedmont when cocoa was expensive. A paste made from roasted, finely ground hazelnut partially replaced the chocolate. It produced an intense, complex yet elegant taste that is still used today.
On The Nose
The delightful aroma of rich chocolate, hot chocolate, hazelnuts, floral notes and echoes of exotic fruits.
On The Palate
Sweet praline chocolate flavours are beautifully complimented with Sicilian hazelnut paste, roasted for rich, complex notes. A velvety finish with a discreet alcohol kick.
Best Served
Enjoy a liquid delight in the Alexander Passion shaken and chilled over ice with Alexander vodka poured into a martini glass topped with decadent dark chocolate shavings and garnished with voluptuous, succulent raspberries.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Ingrid’s Top Pick
Baileys Chocolat Luxe
My personal favourite is Baileys Chocolat Luxe because it’s a rich chocolate liqueur with a nice smooth creaminess and a slightly bitter cacao kick on the finish.
I recommend Baileys Chocolat Luxe and an aperitif that is best sipped slowly over ice.
Conclusion
The best chocolate liqueurs are perfect for sipping neat or adding to cocktails. You can also pour over a dessert for extra flavour or create delicious drinks such as naughty coffees and chocolate milk!
Also Read: 8 Best Advocaat Brands: A Festive Taste of Tradition
These nine creamy cacao-infused sweet liqueurs will undoubtedly satisfy all chocolate lovers. Even white chocolate liqueurs are available if you have a sweeter tooth!
Also Read: 7 Best Kahlua Liqueurs: Where Coffee & Rum Collide
Chocolate Liqueur Q&A
What Is Chocolate Liqueur Made From?
Chocolate Liqueur is an alcoholic beverage made from distilled natural grain-based spirits such as vodka, bourbon, or whiskey and then infused with crushed cacao beans (cacao nibs).
What Is Chocolate Liqueur Used For?
Chocolate liqueur is a versatile beverage; you can sip it neat as an after-dinner digestif, an ingredient for a chocolaty cocktail, or elevate desserts with a chocolate liqueur pour-over.
Are Chocolate Liqueurs Alcoholic?
Chocolate liqueurs do contain alcohol; they usually use a base spirit such as whiskey or vodka and have an alcohol content of around 15-20% ABV.
Cacao Vs Cocoa
The word ‘cacao’ describes the raw cacao beans that have not been roasted. In contrast, ‘cocoa’ describes cocoa beans after roasting.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
