Our recommendations are dedicated to helping you find the right product at the right price. Things you buy may earn us a commission.

It turns out that you can have your chocolate and drink it too. And it tastes (almost) as good in liquid form. Chocolate liqueur satisfies the sweet tooth in all of us and yet it’s often widely maligned and forgotten in the capricious world of cocktail fashion. Even in its most classic rendition, shaken into a chocolate martini, it’s perceived as a nod to bachelorette parties and cruise ships. But the liqueur’s indulgent opportunities are endless. 

Combined with cognac and cream it’s a brandy Alexander. Straight over ice, it’s a decadent dessert and drink in one. (Pro tip: try pouring it over ice cream.) Stirred with whisky and ice and topped with whipped cream, it’s a winter wonderland. Chocolate liqueur – essentially any liqueur that tastes like chocolate – is also used in desserts, and is especially good in sauces, cakes and truffles. The best examples are not too sweet and have a real chocolate flavour – strong enough to taste when softened with other ingredients, or even churned into an adult-approved chocolate milkshake. Here’s six of our favourites.

Baileys Chocolat Luxe, 500ml, Ireland, $38.99

Baileys Chocolat Luxe combines the bitter aftertaste of cocoa with the rich, caramel essence of Baileys Original Irish Cream. It’s a chocolate lovers’ answer to Baileys Original: indulgent and rich, with more strength of flavour than its sibling. A rainbow and gold foil adds the luxe to the ornate bottle. This one is for pouring over ice and drinking straight, as anything else would destroy the lovely balance in the bottle.

O’Mara’s Chocolate Orange, 700ml, Ireland, $15.99

This delicious drop almost tastes like a melted Terry’s Chocolate Orange – another United Kingdom import – poured into a glass with a little cream and a nip of Baileys. It’s not as sophisticated as Baileys, nor as creamy as orange-flavoured chocolate, and yet it hits the spot. The orange is subtle and the drink doesn’t need anything added, except maybe more chocolate. Its lightness is well suited for adding to cocktails – a chocolate martini, perhaps.

Marie Brizard Chocolat Royal Liqueur, 700ml, Spain, $34.99

Made with cocoa beans from the Ivory Coast, this Spanish liqueur very much ticks the chocolate and liqueur boxes it promises – there’s an obvious dark-chocolate flavour and the alcohol plays heavy at the back of the throat, considering it’s only 17 per cent. Pour it over ice cream, or add to a hot chocolate with a dollop of whipped cream. This is more like liquid chocolate than others on our list, and there’s a sophistication and an appeal to it because of that.

Tempus Fugit Crème de Cacao a la Vanille, 700ml, Switzerland, $69.99

Based on a 19th-century recipe, Tempus Fugit’s Crème de Cacao is a thick and sweet liquid with rich vanilla and cacao notes. The raw cacao is distilled and the distillate is then macerated with additional cacao and crushed whole vanilla bean. Because it’s more concentrated, this liqueur is usually served with soda water or mixed in a cocktail.

Ancient Wisdom Chocolate Whisky, 700ml, Australia, $85

This is a beautiful blend of dark cocoa and whisky, with a little bush honey in the mix, left to work magic together in oak barrels. To make this delicious drop,  Ancient Wisdom brings together cocoa paste, cocoa butter and cocoa powder, which are then carefully toasted. The dark cocoa is then added to the whisky oak barrels, which are hand plunged for several months. The dark chocolate is noticeable without overpowering the whisky, and will bring whisky cocktails to a new level.

Mozart Chocolate Spirit, 700ml, Austria, $72.95

The rounded shape and luxurious wrapping of each Mozart Chocolate Liqueur bottle is almost enough to secure its place in a discerning cocktail maker’s drinks cabinet. This dry spirit base is made with natural ingredients, and there’s no added sugar. There are clear aromas of cinnamon in the mix and at times the spirit has almost port-like qualities, though less sweet.

What kind of alcohol is chocolate liqueur?

Chocolate liqueur distillers use different alcohol bases in production, ranging from Mozart’s sugar beet distillate to vodka.

What is white chocolate liqueur?

White chocolate liqueur uses the cocoa butter element of cocoa, which is then mixed with a clear alcohol, sweeteners, stabilisers and other colouring and flavouring agents. The finished product is rich, sweet, creamy and usually moderately alcoholic. White chocolate liqueur is often used in cocktails and desserts intended to be pale in colour, adding its rich sweetness to the mix.

Can you drink chocolate liqueur straight?

Chocolate liqueur is best on the rocks or served straight when it’s more premium quality, so that the full flavour profiles can be appreciated. Conversely, when the drink is very sweet or the chocolate more artificial in flavour, mixing it with other ingredients is a better option.

Have you heard about our new delicious pairing?

In our quest to make life more delicious., we’ve partnered with Qantas Wine to deliver premium Australian wine to your home. All wines are specially curated to perfectly pair with this month’s recipes, making food-and-wine matching effortless.

Featuring award-winners, premium brands and classics, all cases suit both your palate and your pocket. Plus, you’ll earn Qantas Points on every purchase!

Simply choose from our selection of quality cases or a wine subscription and get delicious wines delivered to your home.

Find more information, see delicious.com.au/drinksclub.