Curaçao is a type of [ingredient=orange-liqueur orange liqueur] invented on the eponymous Caribbean island of in the 19th century by the Senior family. Curaçao utilizes the native laraha, an adapted version of the Spanish Valencia orange that was brought to the island in the 16th century. The laraha is green and inedible, but the peels have a wonderful aroma of bittersweet oranges.
Curaçao comes in many different colors: clear, orange, blue, and green being the most predominant. The clear version is quite suitable for substitution for neutral spirit based orange liqueurs in cocktails, and is the normal color of the liqueur -- the others are artificially colored.
The Senior brand is called "Curaçao of Curaçao" in order to differentiate it from other producers not on the island like Bols or Hiram Walker.
Some popular cocktails containing Curaçao
- Old Painless is Waiting — Light rum, Curaçao, Absinthe, Coconut Water, Lime juice, Pineapple syrup, Nutmeg
- Jakarta Mai Tai — Batavia Arrack, Rhum Agricole, Curaçao, Lime juice, Simple syrup, Salt, Lime peel, Curry leaf
- So Smooth it's Dangerous — Aromatized wine, Elderflower liqueur, Curaçao
- High Chicago — Apricot eau-de-vie, Mastika, Pineau des Charentes, Curaçao, Suze, Kummel, Orange peel
- Hawaii Kai Treasure — Puerto Rican Rum, Curaçao, Crushed ice, Lime juice, Grapefruit juice, Half-and-half, Orgeat, Honey syrup
- Parisian Blonde — Curaçao, Añejo rum, Cream, Cinnamon
- Hurray Cocktail — Rum, Sweet vermouth, Curaçao, Amaro, Bitters
- Mai Tai (Trader Vic's) — Jamaican rum, Rhum Agricole, Curaçao, Lime juice, Orgeat, Simple syrup, Mint
- The Goblins Turn to Stone — Genever, Cardamaro, Cynar, Curaçao, Orange peel
- Pillars of Society — Sweet vermouth, Cynar, Curaçao, Absinthe, Lemon peel