Post #594669 by TorchGuy on Thu, Jun 23, 2011 4:28 AM

Creme Yvette and Parfait Amour are not the same thing.

The Blue Moon and the Aviation both get their color (supposed to be a pale sky blue) from violet-colored liqueur. The things which fit the bill (and are available in the US) are Creme de Violette by Rothman & Winter, Parfait Amour by Marie Brizard and the recently re-introduced Creme Yvette. But there are taste differences. Parfait Amour is vanilla, spices and a bit of orange. Creme de Violette and Creme de Yvette are proper violet flavor. The Aviation properly uses Creme de Violette or Creme Yvette, but I'm not sure about the Blue Moon. All these liqueurs are very tasty, as is the Violette by Hermes (Suntory, Japan) which is not sold in the US.

I don't have a proper tiki bar, and I have no rum. But I do collect odd liqueurs. I have on hand:
Navan (vanilla Cognac, Grand Marnier brand)
St. Germain elderflower
Various older 1970s and 1980s DeKuyper products
Stroh 80 (Austrian rummy stuff, 160 proof)
Cheri-Suisse (chocolate cherry, 1970s)
La Grand Passion (passion fruit, late 1980s, Grand Marnier brand)
As well as orgeat (Fee) and Peychaud's bitters

I have also had:
Wild Turkey liqueur (1970s, not the new "American Honey" product)
Cherry Marnier
Agavero
Barenjager
Creme de Violette

My only regularly-kept non-liqueur is single malt, usually Laphroaig 10. I also have some homemade apricot, blackberry and plum and will soon have a cardamom-pear and perhaps some falernum.