William M. Dowd photos

• Fourth, and last, in a series of holiday gift-giving suggestions for the spirits connosieur. Go here for part one, here for part two, and here for part three.

We've done the rums, bourbons and Scotches for people on our holiday shopping list. Now let's turn to that very special niche known as the liqueur.

COINTREAU NOIR

Cointreau is an iconic French liqueur that consistently rakes in top awards, such as a double gold in this year's San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

But even a 160-year-old enterprise doesn't continue to prosper by standing still. Thus, this new offering. Regular Cointreau is a common ingredient in many cocktails, and it has been for generations.

Its makers are marketing this new blend of the orange liqueur with Remy Martin Cognac as a less sweet version of the original meant to be sipped straight or over ice rather than become part of a mix.

On the nose, the familiar bright orange Cointreau fragrance comes spilling out of the copper-clad bottle. But the presence of Remy markedly changes the flavor, lightening it considerably and adding that signature warmth that only cognac can. At 40% abv (80 proof), the alcohol level remains the same as the pre-cognac expression.

Suggested retail price: $63.99 for the 750ml bottle.

FARETTI BISCOTTI FAMOSI

If I didn't know better, I'd swear that the craftsmen at Faretti had simply crushed a batch of biscotti into a slightly syrupy form and bottled it.

Of course, that's not ther method for making this liqueur, but the result is like having the rustic, iconic Italian baked treat in drinkable form.

The signature flavors of almond, honey and even the biscuit itself are immediately obvious in both the nose and on the palate. The more you sip the more the flavor profile opens, revealing hints of citrus, fennel, caramel and vanilla. This is an excellent liquer, equally serviceable as a standalone sip or in mixed drinks.

As for me, I'd recommend it in place of dessert. It is that good, and that satisfying.

Suggested retail price: $25.99.

TUACA LIQUORE ITALIANO

The name may sound a bit Latin American, bit this liqueur is an ancient Italian concoction its makers say was created in the 16th Century, during the Renaissance, for Lorenzo de' Medici, patron of Michelangelo and Boticelli. It was first exported to the United States in the 1950s.

It is a pleasant experience from the first sniff, rich with fragrant notes of vanilla, caramel and orange.

The brandy-based sweet liquid has a slightly thick consistency that coats the palate with hints of apricot, golden raisin and clover honey, and a lengthy, warm finish that makes it an excellent after-dinner treat. I also tried it in a highball with Jetset Energy Ginger Ale, a concoction I found rather refreshing.

Suggested retail price: $21 for the 750ml bottle.