Did people not know this? They sit right next to each other on the shelf. I’ve found that typically when a cheap liquor is very obnoxiously colored, it’s going to be made with food dye, vs a product that’s more expensive will use specific tricks in the industry to get the color right. A good example is Empress Gin. The color comes from pea flowers and will even change color when you add acid. And even though it’s very bright in color, it’s still nowhere near as electric blue as blue curacao.
Did people not know this? They sit right next to each other on the shelf. I’ve found that typically when a cheap liquor is very obnoxiously colored, it’s going to be made with food dye, vs a product that’s more expensive will use specific tricks in the industry to get the color right. A good example is Empress Gin. The color comes from pea flowers and will even change color when you add acid. And even though it’s very bright in color, it’s still nowhere near as electric blue as blue curacao.
See Arrow and De Kuyper
Pierre Ferrand dry curacao is pale orange. Creme de Menthe is usually dyed green because I guess people expect mint to be green.
I have to point out just how good Empress is. It makes a fantastic g&t.
One of my local watering holes fills a chalice with empress, tonic, raspberries, and whole peppercorns. Absolutely delicious