The Original Curaçao Liqueur

HISTORY

Shortly after their discovery of the island in 1499 the Spaniards planned for, amongst others, the agricultural development of Curaçao. One of the plants they carried with care on their long sea voyages from Spain was the so-called "Valencia" orange. The different climate and soil conditions however changed this juicy fruit to a kind of bitter, almost inedible produce. In short the project was forgotten and the "misfits" of the once proud "Valencia" oranges grew wild and abandoned, not even touched by our infamous goats. It was not till decades later (the exact date is lost in history) that someone discovered that the peels of this orange, thoroughly dried by the sun, contained an etheric oil with an extraordinary pleasing fragrance.

Somehow, after experimenting with the oils of the Laraha oranges, a recipe came to the Senior family who further experimented with various exotic spices until they were sure to have found a unique liqueur which, with a kind of chauvinistic enthusiasm, was called Curaçao Liqueur.

With the same enthusiasm the new firm Senior & Co. made a, for that time, enormous investment to start an industry. An especially ordered copper still manufactured in 1896 is still in use today to produce Curaçao's nectar of the "Laraha".

By this time, the stepchild of the Valencia orange had received its own botanical name: "Citrus Aurantium Currassuviensis", meaning "Golden Orange of Curaçao". In the local tongue however the orange was simply named "Laraha".

Senior & Co. produces its now almost age old liqueur in the famous landhouse (country mansion) of Chobolobo in the area of Saliña.

What's in a name?

Curaçao Liqueur became so popular worldwide that more manufacturers albeit many with artificial flavors, began to manufacture it. It was, and in many instances still is, the case that the liqueur became better known than the island itself. In other words, when people from all over the world finally discovered our island their first question would be: "Is that not the place which was named after Curaçao liqueur?"

The name of a place or country cannot be protected as a product name as e.g. places like Champagne Cognac or Sherry. For Curaçao Liqueur the word "ORIGINAL" may only be added if the drink is made with the oil of the "Golden Oranges of Curaçao". For Senior's Curaçao liqueur the alcohol and Tobacco Tax division of the U.S.A. has ruled that it is the only one which is also authorized to put "THE AUTHENTIC" on its label. To avoid any confusion Senior & Co. furthermore changed the name to "Curaçao of Curaçao" liqueur.

Gold for the Golden Orange
In October 1973 at the 11th International Contest for liqueurs held in Paris, France, Senior's authentic
"Curaçao of Curaçao" liqueur was awarded the highest prize:
"The gold medal of the World Selection for Excellence".