Almost every ingredient you’ve ever heard of has made it into a liqueur at some point – whether it’s a fruit, a spice, or something more outlandish. This diversity is due to the drink’s long history. For centuries, strong spirits have been tempered with the addition of roots, herbs and flowers, as well as some sugar to make them easier to drink. Just think of the classics, from Grand Marnier (invented in 1870), to Luxardo Maraschino (1821) and Chartreuse (created as far back as 1084).
But liqueurs are still hugely popular today, thanks in part to social media. These bold, brightly coloured drinks look fantastic when photographed and are guaranteed to bump up those likes and shares. But they’re also versatile, forming an essential building block in cocktails such as the Kir Royale and the Cosmopolitan, as well as current favourite, the Aperol Spritz. Cream liqueurs are an after-dinner treat – and sometimes a replacement for dessert itself – and whisky liqueurs are a mainstay of hip flasks and hot toddies in the colder months.

The IWSC’s 2024 winners show off that versatility, too. Top of the shop was Orahovica Od Lješnjaka Hazelnut Liqueur, which scored an impressive 99 points. The IWSC judges were hugely impressed with its notes of rich cacao and fresh citrus, alongside its ‘rich, chocolate spread-like intensity’.
Other Gold winners were De Kuyper Royal Distillers, Muyu Jasmine Vert, which scored well thanks to its aromatic and floral notes of coffee and coconut. And on the zestier side, Limoncello from Lime Bros impressed with its zesty and refreshing flavours, compared favourable by the judges to an Italian ice.
All were judged blind by an expert panel, featuring WSET educator Marie Cheong Thong, director of Vanguard Bars Samuel Boulton and owner and director of Wine and Such, Stephanie DiCamillo.
The world of liqueurs is a fascinating one to explore, given the variety and diversity on offer – so get going with this list of 15 of the best from the IWSC 2024.

HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE SPIRITS?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous spirits tasting process. That means that each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver spirits range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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