Sometimes it seems to take a special dictionary to navigate the cocktail world. For instance, while it is true that crème is the French word for cream, a crème liqueur and a cream liqueur are not the same.
Cream liqueurs, such as Baileys or Carolans Irish cream, contain dairy cream. Crème liqueurs, such as crème de menthe and crème de cacao, have more sugar than other liqueurs and therefore a thicker consistency. They do not, however, contain any cream.
Crème and cream liqueurs are both sweeter and heavier than other liqueurs. So remember that crème de cacao, chocolate cream liqueur and chocolate liqueur are three different things. Taste your liqueur separately before mixing with abandon to ensure you’re using the right one for the job.
