Featured Best Buy Booze: JDK and Sons 03 Orange Liqueur

August 15, 2011 — JDK & Sons 03

Oh, rebranding, you cad. You take a company who’s known for their… less classy shall we say… products. Then you release a premium product  and try to pretend you’re not the same people responsible for Island Punch Pucker.

That’s right, we’re talking about Dekuyper.

Although, that’s kind of unfair. Dekuyper does make some of the most popular mixers on the market (and yes, we even stock some here, such as Hot Damn). However, Apple Pucker shots aren’t often mentioned in the same breath as top-shelf liquor. The Dekuyper brand is hoping to buck that trend with 03 Orange Liqueur.

Dekuyper describes this Cointreau-killer (they hope) as an orange liqueur with Brazilian orange, curaçao fruits and other citrus flavors. Is it any good? Well, we’re putting the Cocktails, 365 seal of approval on it for a best buy budget booze. So it has to be. Here’s how it breaks down.

Nose:

Oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, orange. With a bit of a whiff of oranges.

Neat:

Oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, orange. Oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, orange. It beats you in the face with oranges. Oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, oranges, orange… It is a bit thicker than expected, but it has this very pleasant citrus bite on the end. Smoother than you would figure. Very intense orange flavor.

On the Rocks:

Okay, you get it. This is one hell of an orange spirit. Some of the “oomph” of the citrus end is taken off on the rocks. It’s easy for orange liqueurs to take on a cloying, fake, almost bathroom-cleaner like flavor and scent. The 03 manages to avoid this quite well. There’s a solid, bold orange flavor that’s not too heavy on sweetness.

Cheers!