Giffard Creme de Framboise 750ML

Giffard Crème de Framboise 750ML is a French raspberry liqueur bottled at 16% ABV (32 proof) and made from macerated Willamette raspberries. Produced by Giffard & Cie in the Loire Valley, this expression has earned a loyal following among professional bartenders worldwide for its clean, uncompromising raspberry character and natural fruit-forward production philosophy.

Quick Facts: ABV: 16%  |  Origin: Loire Valley, France  |  Style: Crème Liqueur  |  Producer: Giffard & Cie, Angers

Production & Heritage

Giffard & Cie has been producing liqueurs in Angers, in France's Loire Valley, since 1885. The Crème de Framboise is made by macerating Willamette raspberries — a highly aromatic varietal sourced from Serbia — in neutral spirit distilled from sugar beets. The process deliberately avoids heat, relying instead on time to coax out the fruit's natural flavor and deep red color without degrading its delicate aromatic compounds. Under French liqueur law, the "crème" designation requires a minimum of 250 grams of sugar per liter, and Giffard uses sugar beet sugar as its sweetener. Notably, the Willamette varietal's naturally low sugar content helps keep the finished liqueur balanced and versatile rather than cloying. No artificial colors or flavors are used.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh raspberry dominates immediately, moving into deeper jammy and preserved-fruit territory. Secondary notes of blackcurrant, gooseberry, and faint spice round out a generous, inviting nose.

Taste: The entry is bright and dynamic — more fresh raspberry juice than confection. At mid-palate, jammy sweetness builds but stays in check thanks to a light, natural acidity and a surprising thread of black pepper spice. Faint vanilla lingers beneath the fruit.

Finish: Long and aromatic, echoing the berry character from the nose. The peppery undertone provides a clean, satisfying exit that keeps the sweetness from becoming heavy.

How to Drink Crème de Framboise

Chilled and neat in a small pour, this liqueur showcases its pure raspberry intensity, though it truly shines as a cocktail ingredient. Its clean fruit profile and moderate 16% ABV make it an excellent modifier without overwhelming a drink's base spirit.

• Clover Club: The classic gin sour calls for raspberry liqueur, and Crème de Framboise's bright acidity and pure berry flavor integrate seamlessly with gin, lemon, and egg white.
• French Martini: Combined with vodka and pineapple juice, the liqueur's jammy depth adds complexity without muddying the drink's clean lines.
• Kir Impérial: A float of Crème de Framboise in Champagne creates an elegant aperitif where the liqueur's natural color and aroma elevate simple sparkling wine.

Best For

• Building a well-stocked home cocktail bar with professional-grade ingredients
• Gifting to a cocktail enthusiast who values natural, fruit-driven liqueurs
• Adding to desserts, sorbets, and pastry recipes that call for pure raspberry flavor
• Hosting brunches where sparkling wine cocktails anchor the drinks menu

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Crème de Framboise taste like? It tastes like concentrated fresh and jammy raspberry with a light peppery spice and gentle acidity that balances the sweetness. Faint vanilla and hints of other red fruits like blackcurrant add subtle complexity.

How does Crème de Framboise compare to Chambord? Chambord (16.5% ABV) blends raspberry with vanilla, citrus peel, and cognac for a more layered, complex flavor profile. Giffard Crème de Framboise focuses more narrowly on pure, clean raspberry character, making it a more straightforward and cocktail-friendly raspberry liqueur.

Is Crème de Framboise good for cocktails? It is one of the most cocktail-friendly raspberry liqueurs available, favored by professional bartenders for its clean fruit profile, natural color, and balanced sweetness that blends without overpowering a drink's base spirit.

Where is Crème de Framboise made? Giffard Crème de Framboise is produced by Giffard & Cie in Angers, located in France's Loire Valley. The Willamette raspberries used in production are sourced from Serbia.

What foods pair well with Crème de Framboise? Dark chocolate desserts benefit from the liqueur's bright berry contrast. It complements fresh goat cheese with its tangy acidity, pairs naturally with lemon tarts or panna cotta, works drizzled over vanilla ice cream, and stands up well alongside almond-based pastries like financiers or frangipane.

What sizes does Crème de Framboise come in? The standard and most widely available size is 750ml, which is the expression profiled here.

Is Crème de Framboise worth the price? Giffard positions this as a mid-range, professional-quality liqueur, priced competitively against other natural fruit liqueurs. Its use of real Willamette raspberries and avoidance of artificial additives places it above budget raspberry liqueurs in both ingredient quality and mixing versatility.

Why Crème de Framboise?

What separates Giffard's expression from the broader raspberry liqueur category is its single-minded commitment to raspberry purity. The cold maceration of Willamette raspberries — a varietal chosen specifically for its intense aroma and color — produces a liqueur that reads as fruit, not candy. Giffard's decision to use neutral sugar beet spirit as its base keeps the focus squarely on the berry, unlike competitors that layer in cognac, vanilla, or citrus to build complexity. That restraint is precisely why the bottle has become a staple behind professional bars: it does one thing exceptionally well and stays out of the way of everything else in the glass.