Taylors Velvet Falernum Liqueur 11% 70cl

Additional information

Bottle sizes	70cl
Origin	Barbados

Description

Taylors Velvet Falernum Liqueur is a famous Bajan alcoholic mixer which was first first created by John D Taylor of Bridgetown in 1890. Today it is made by R L Seale & Co Ltd at the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados.

A Falernum can be a syrup or a liqueur, i.e. non alcoholic or alcoholic, but it it always made with a base of lime and sugar as a base with other ingredients added for flavouring. Taylors Velvet Falernum Liqueur is a is a blend of fine cane syrup, Barbados rum, lime juice, water and essence of almond and clove and is bottled at 11% abv. Other Falernums might include ingredients such as ginger, vanilla or allspice. It is not dissimilar to almond-based Orgeat syrups. Taylors Velvet Falernum is now a staple of every Barbados bar but it is based on old traditional recipes. The apocryphal story goes that when a tourist to Barbados asked a local woman or bartender for the ingredients for Falernum, they were answered in a broad Bajan dialect, “Haf a learn um” i.e. you have to learn them!

Taylors Velvet Falernum Liqueur is a sweet, syrup-like mixer that is the base for many Caribbean Tiki drinks and cocktails. Being rum-based this is an ideal mixer for rum-based cocktails but it also goes great with gin, vodka and bourbon, however, it can also be drunk neat or on the rocks. The most famous cocktails that call for Falernum include the Barbados Rum Swizzle, Mai Tai, Zombie, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the Corn ‘n’ Oil.

Tasting Notes

On the nose, there are strong notes of clove, ginger, and almond, with a sweet, syrupy aroma. The taste is sweet, with a balance of spice and a slight bitterness that comes from the lime zest. The clove and ginger notes are still prominent, but the almond takes a back seat to the other flavours. The texture is thick and syrupy, making it perfect for use as a cocktail ingredient.

To Serve

Taylors Velvet Falernum Liqueur is a complex and flavorful liqueur that adds depth and complexity to cocktails. It pairs particularly well with rum and can be used in a variety of tropical cocktails such as Mai Tais and Zombies. Perfect in a Corn ‘n’ Oil.

Corn ‘n’ Oil Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

6 cl Dark Rum or Doorlys 5 Year Old
2 cl Taylor’s Velvet Falernum
0.5 cl Lime juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Garnish:

Lime wedge

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass.
Add ice and stir until well-chilled.
Strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a lime wedge.