Licor 43
Golden vanilla liqueur from Cartagena, made with 43 ingredients. Find out how it tastes, which creamy varieties are available, how to make a Carajillo, and which glass to choose.
What’s in Licor 43?
In the Netherlands, many people simply call it liqueur 43. In Spain, it's called Cuarenta y Tres. The bottle comes from Cartagena, on the Mediterranean coast, and the recipe contains 43 ingredients. These are mainly Mediterranean herbs, citrus fruits and vanilla. According to the story, it dates back to a drink from Roman times. The Zamora family has been making it since 1946.
It's sweet, creamy and full of vanilla, with 31% alcohol. In the Netherlands, it's one of the best-selling liqueurs. We drink it neat over ice, with milk, or in a Carajillo, the Spanish coffee cocktail. In recent years, creamy varieties have also appeared, such as Horchata, Chocolate and Crème Brûlée.
In brief
Licor 43 varieties at a glance
Licor 43 Original
The familiar yellow bottle. Sweet, with lots of vanilla and citrus, and a hint of spice underneath. This is where it all begins.
Licor 43 Horchata
Licor 43 blended with tiger nut horchata (chufa). Plant-based and creamy, with a hint of cinnamon.
Licor 43 Chocolate
Cocoa and cream. Sweet and rich, it’s like a chocolate dessert in liquid form. Drink it ice-cold as a dessert shot.
Licor 43 Crème Brûlée
Vanilla and burnt sugar, with a pinch of salted caramel. Creamy, yet fresher than you’d expect.
Licor 43 Speculoos
Speculoos spices with cinnamon and caramel. This is the winter edition. Try adding a splash to hot chocolate, too.
Licor 43 1 liter
Just the Original, but in a one-liter bottle. If you often drink it with milk or in coffee, it’s better value.
Start with the Original. You use it in every recipe, and it’s versatile.
What does Licor 43 taste like?
Vanilla & orange
First you smell sweet vanilla. Behind it are orange peel, a hint of cinnamon, and Mediterranean herbs.
Creamy and sweet
Syrupy and full-bodied. Vanilla, honey, and citrus. With all that sweetness, you hardly notice the 31% alcohol.
Long and warm
The vanilla lingers, along with a hint of spice and a gentle warmth from the alcohol.
This is the flavor profile of the Original. The creamy varieties (16%) are milder and less sweet and spicy.
Three ways to drink Licor 43
Because it’s so sweet, you drink it cold. Most people mix Licor 43 with milk or coffee, or simply pour it over ice. Each of these three calls for a different glass.
Neat over ice
Put a large ice cube in a tumbler and pour 40 ml Licor 43 over it. The cold tones down the sweetness and brings out the vanilla. Add a slice of orange for extra freshness.
Glass: tumbler →Licor 43 with milk
Fill a highball glass with ice, pour in 50 ml Licor 43, and top it off with 150 ml cold milk. This is how people in the Netherlands like to drink it best. Creamy and sweet, yet refreshing. If you like, sprinkle a little cinnamon on top.
Glass: highball glass →Carajillo
Shake a shot of espresso with 40 ml Licor 43 and plenty of ice, then pour into a tumbler. In Madrid and Mexico City, this coffee cocktail is on almost every menu.
Go to recipe →The best cocktails with Licor 43
Carajillo
Espresso and Licor 43, shaken with ice. Two ingredients, one of the best coffee cocktails.
Licor 43 cocktail
Our favorite recipe with Licor 43, orange, and lime. Sweet, fresh, and no fuss.
Apple pie shot
Licor 43, apple juice, and a cinnamon rim. It really tastes like apple pie with whipped cream.
Coffee cocktails
From Espresso Martini to Irish Coffee: all the coffee cocktails on one page.The right glass for Licor 43
Pour Licor 43 neat into a small liqueur glass. For ice or milk, choose a tumbler or highball glass. These are the glasses we recommend for Licor 43.
Everything you wanted to know about Licor 43
Can’t find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
View cocktail recipes →What percentage alcohol is Licor 43?
What’s in Licor 43?
How do you drink Licor 43?
What is a Carajillo?
What’s the difference between Licor 43 and Licor 43 Horchata?
Does Licor 43 need to be refrigerated?
Buy Licor 43
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Licor 43 online at Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 12 varieties, 6 of which are on sale.
Prices as of November 4, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
