CURAÇAO BLUE
The most noticeable thing about Curaçao Blue is the unusual blue color. You may have tried it while on vacation in an adventurously named cocktail, like Blue Lagoonor Hypnotizer.Or maybe you’ve seen it in a bar, sitting on a shelf between the usual white and brown and other dull colored bottles around it. Curaçao Blue evokes images of blue oceans and lazy lounging on white sandy beaches, while leisurely listening to exotic Caribbean music in the background. The blue liqueur is the perfect base ingredient for an endless array of exciting cocktails that have been featured in movies, magazines and books. Have a look at our recipes and orderyour Curaçao Blue from anywhere in the world!
Curaçao Blue is an orange liqueur similar to triple sec with a sweet, slightly tangy, orange-ish flavor. The distinctive blue color comes from food coloring. It’s also available in other colors, but the blue version is by far the most exotic and popular. It isflavored with the dry peel of a special type of orange that is not only native to Curaçao, it is not to be found anywhere else in the world. While ruling Curaçao around 1500 the Spanish brought with them Valencia orange plants from Spain carrying high hopes for agricultural development. Unfortunately, the scorching sun and dry climate there did not provide the ideal growing circumstances they had dreamt and the Valencia orange evolved into a green skinned bitter citrus fruit called the laraha. The fruit itself was inedible but the deliciously fragrant peels were dried and soaked in alcohol, which became the extract for the Curaçao liqueur we have come to love!
THE ADVENTURER
Don Angel J. Leáñez was born in Coro, Venezuela, in 1897. During a carnival celebration in 1928 he got a stone thrown in his eye and had to be operated on urgently. In those days the road infrastructure between Coro and Caracas were almost inaccessible and the shortest distance to a hospital was to get on a small wooden commercial fruit boat and travel to Curaçao.
Thankfully his eye healed well, which enabled him to see how beautiful Curaçao was. And when he met his future bride, Miss Emilia Solita Rojer, he decided to stay. At that time the Shell refinery was already established on the island.
On October 18th of 1935, Don Angel J. Leáñez founded Tip Top Leáñez and ventured into many different businesses from insecticides to chicken feed, eventually choosing the current business of bottling of syrups, essences and liquor.
He was very active in the community and cofounded the “Sociedad Bolivariana”.
In 1960 he was he was recognized by the Dutch Queen for his efforts and contributions to the community and was decorated with a Knighthood. His high and exacting standards are always actively applied in the company, making it the thriving business it is today.
CURAÇAO
Curaçao is well known for its dazzling blue Curaçao sea and beautiful sandy beaches. But Curaçao is also home to a rich historical culture and an interesting collection of architectural buildings. The capital city Willemstad is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its population consists of more than 55 different cultures living peacefully side by side. By the way, Curaçao is pronounced ‘Kur-ah-sow’ or ‘Kjoor-ah-sow’, the last syllable sounds like the ‘ou’ in sour. This could be very important when ordering a drink at a bar.
IMPORT AND EXPORT
Tip Top Leáñez currently imports and represents prestigious brands such as Moёt & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Hennessy, Presidente Beer, E. & J. Gallo and wines from the best known wineries in the world. Curaçao Blue has been particularly popular in past few decades on the local market. Nowadays the demand for Curaçao Blue has gone up so high that we have decided to design a website especially for the purpose of exporting Curaçao Blue worldwide. So far it is being exported throughout the Caribbean, the United States, Central America and Europe and we’re looking forward to delighting the rest of the world with our Curaçao Blue!
BUSINESS TODAY
Mr. Angelo J. Leáñez, grandson of Don Angel has successfully been running the company for many years now. He literally grew into the business. He started out as a young boy helping his grandfather by doing little chores, like sweeping and cleaning machines. For years he explored every corner of the business and climbed his way up to being the owner of a successful business today. The name Leáñez stands for quality, authenticity and integrity. Throughout the years the second and third generation have remained true to the exacting standards of Don Angel Leáñez.
