A shot of caffeine
Go bold. Mixing coffee, and coffee-based liqueurs in your favourite spirit is probably an addition that your cocktail needs.
You can’t live without your hot mug of coffee in the morning. But, if you’re thinking of enjoying your caffeine boost with a little kick, you might be trying to figure out which alcohol goes best with coffee. Give me all the boozy hot chocolate. Bring on the apple cider cocktails. Although, if you’re hitting the slopes, I recommend alcohol in moderation. Safety first, people.
Even if you don’t plan to use hot coffee in your cocktails, the bold flavour of coffee makes the perfect addition to tons of different beverages. That’s right, combining cocktails and booze goes way beyond that standard Irish coffee. There are plenty of innovative and delicious recipes that are sure to have you falling in love with that cup of coffee all over again. Let’s take a look at some famous spirits and liqueurs to pair with coffee:
Frangelico: It is one of the most favorite pairing for coffee. It has a mellow but nutty flavor. A little bit like hazelnut with a wee bit of vanilla added. This is famous for chocolate-hazelnut espresso martini.
Kahlua: Since it already tastes like coffee, the added flavour isn’t all that strong. But it does add a touch of sweetness and an extra bit of roasted flavor to your coffee. It also adds a nice coffee touch when added to other drinks, like hot chocolate.
Bourbon: Think of a latte, which has extra touch of bold coffee, rich butterscotch, and of course bourbon. With that classic latte foam and some tasty butterscotch drizzle, coffee cocktails don’t get much better than this.
Tequila: Now this is one spirit you might not have thought of mixing with coffee. It seems more well suited for margaritas. But, with coffee, cream, and cinnamon sugar, there’s no denying that this drink sounds delicious.
Baileys Irish cream: A classic in coffee, the creamy texture of Irish Cream blends well with coffee, and has the smooth taste of whiskey.
Amaretto: Another nutty liqueur that goes very nicely with a cup of hot coffee. The almond flavor is subtle and may get lost if your coffee is too strong.
Alcoholic coffee drinks make for a delicious touch at the end of a dinner with friends or family. Or simply as a treat for yourself. In one sense, adding alcohol to coffee is a little peculiar. The alcohol makes you mellow, and the coffee perks you up. Perhaps it is this blending of opposites that makes these drinks so attractive.
Ketan Swami is the food and beverage manager at MARS Hospitality.