Cream liqueur: History in the making

The history of cream liqueurs began as far back as 1973. Tant’ Sannie had not yet been created – the first cream liqueur was one of the most well-known cream liqueurs, Baileys. At first, people did not quite know what to make of a spirit that had been mixed with cream. However, it wasn’t too long until the new spirit based drink caught on, and today we just can’t get enough!

Let’s begin at the beginning: What exactly is a cream liqueur?

A creme liqueur is an alcoholic drink (liquor/spirit) that is sweetened and flavoured with other ingredients, such as fruit, coffee, nuts, herbs, spices, etc. So, as you might have guessed already, a cream liqueur is a liqueur that contains cream. Bingo! In the case of Tant’ Sannie, ours boasts flavours of creamy, freshly baked milktart and a hint of cinnamon.

Is this the same as a crème de … liqueur?

Cream Liqueurs and Crème Liqueurs: what’s the difference?

As weird as this might seem, considering that cream and crème are pretty much the same word, just in two different languages, the answer is in fact no. Cream liqueurs contain cream, while crème liqueurs contain no cream, have a higher sugar content and thicker texture than regular liqueurs. Fun fact: if you see a product that says “crème de” then this product does not contain cream and falls under the crème liqueur category. 

Do you know how to spell this creamy alcoholic beverage?

If there was a list of the most misspelled words out there, we are pretty sure liqueurs would make the Top 10! So, let’s get it right form the get-go.

If you’ve ever spelled them as cream liquors, crème liquors or crème liqueurs, you are not alone. A look at Google Trends shows that cream liquors and cream liqueurs are both popular, however the latter is the winner overall in most cases.

Now that you know the right way to spell this creamy alcoholic drink, there is no excuse to misspell cream liqueurs (although if you do, we won’t hold it against you)!

What makes a good cream liqueur?

The basis of every good cream liqueur is all in the emulsion.

An emulsion is the combination of two liquids that do not naturally mix. In the case of a cream liqueur, these two liquids are cream and alcohol. The beauty of a cream liqueur is in creating a stable emulsion, which will remain intact for a long period of time. Of course, there are many other factors to consider, such as the known fading of colours and flavours over time.

Cookies, and cream?

What goes best with Tant’ Sannie cream liqueur? Our softly sweet cream liqueur can be enjoyed in many way, and can be served alongside so many food types. Here are our favourite ways to enjoy Tant’ Sannie:

  • Chilled, as a shot (Cheers!)
  • On the rocks, to sip on
  • In your coffee, iced coffee or hot chocolate
  • Poured over ice cream
  • In a milkshake or Dom Pedro
  • With a sprinkle of cinnamon (on all of the above)

When to drink this quintessentially South African cream liqueur?

Almost any time! At a braai, birthday party or as an after dinner treat, Tant’ Sannie brings a smile to everyone’s face when served. Also, it makes a great gift (Oh, it’s almost Christmas).