The Blue Lagoon is an interesting cocktail where the magic is on Blue Curaçao liqueur.

A story mention that in the 16th and 17th centuries – the early years of European exploration – sailors on long voyages would often get scurvy (lack of vitamin C). Either Portuguese and Spanish sailors who were ill were left on the island now known as Curaçao.

“Curação” is the Portuguese word for “healing”.

They introduced the orange to the island in the early 16^th century but shriveled, turned green and fell off the tree unripe in the Caribbean heat. A new orange was born. Locally known as “Laraha” were too bitter to be eaten so it was used to make aromatic oils and liquors.

Dutch colonists began to occupy Curaçao in 1630’s after Dutch Republic declared independence from Spain. They brought the liquor to Europe and called it Curaçao.

From then on, the Portuguese referred to this as “Ilha da Curação” or the Spanish as “Isla de la Curación”.

By the 1950’s, Bols expanded Blue Curaçao into the market and selling it as a cocktail ingredient.

Andy MacElhone, son of the legendary bartender Harry MacElhone created at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France.