MIXOLOGY Comfort, Caffeinated 10 -flavored to warm up with this winter

By Bill Burke

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0121 802 Spirits.indd 6 11/24/20 2:00 PM Comfort, Caffeinated offee fans will readily admit that it’s difficult to improve on a bracing cup of joe on a cold winter day. But it can be done. After shoveling the driveway, running errands on a subzero eveningC or spending the day on the slopes, there may be no better way to thaw out than with a cup of coffee. Add a few spirits to your cup and it can completely transform the flavor and character of the drink. An international favorite, enthusiasts with a hankering for java have invented delicious, eye-opening drinks centered around the bean in , England, Italy and France. Quite often, however, the first reach is for the familiar tall, slim, dark brown bottle imported from Mexico. With its authentic coffee flavor, and the fact that it uses 100% Arabica coffee, Kahlua is a popular choice for and home mixologists who want to add coffee flavor to their drinks. Originally conceived in 1936, Kahlua first came to theU .S. four years later. It would be an additional 15 years before one of the signature cocktails of this came into being. Invented in Oakland, Califor- nia, in 1955, the combines , Kahlua and (giving fans the << White Russian "Russian" element of the .) It’s 2 ounces vodka even been immortalized as Jeffrey 1 ounce Kahlua “The Dude” Lebowski’s favorite cocktail in “The Big Lebowski.” 1 splash heavy cream Add the vodka and Kahlua to an old-fashioned glass with ice. Top with heavy cream and stir.

Black Russian 2 ounces vodka 1 ounce Kahlua Combine the ingredients into For a slightly drier version (of a mixing glass with ice and stir. if you want to save the cream Strain into an old-fashioned for your morning coffee), try glass over fresh ice. this simpler version.

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Coffee Now that we’re in the coldest << Hot White Russian months of the year, however, it may courtesy epicurious.com Bring the familiar, welcome flavor of be best to try the warm version of this serves 4 coffee with any of these coffee-flavored longtime favorite. Just remember to 2 ½ cups freshly liqueurs. heat the ingredients slowly, and gather ½ cup heavy cream a few others — this one will warm you Kahlua, quite often the go-to ½ cup Kahlua and three friends up. when a cocktail calls for coffee fla- ¼ cup vodka vor, is a liqueur made from rum, Whipped heavy cream and coffee — and while there is some in this In a saucepan, stir together the coffee, import from Mexico, it’s appar- the ½ cup cream, the Kahlua and the ently only about 25% as much vodka, and heat the mixture over moder- as the equal amount of coffee. ate heat until it is hot. Divide the mixture, It’s dairy free, which means it and garnish each drink with some of the can be stored for a time. whipped cream. Allen’s Coffee , craft- ed just one state away in Maine, coffee will provide is the No. 1 selling spirit in warmth, thanks to the coffee, and a Vacationland. According to lore, completely unique character thanks fishermen would add a splash to to the amaretto an almond-fla- their morning coffee for a little — vored liqueur that originated in extra warmth. Saronno. While generally considered an Mr. Boston Coffee Brandy Italian liqueur, there are several brands is a coffee-flavored take on the of amaretto that will work perfectly, old favorite, perfect for sweet including DeKyuper, Disaronno and cocktails. Luxardo. However, there is a New Jagermeister Cold Brew England-produced option: Amaretto E Coffee is a mashup of Jager- Dolce is produced in Lewiston, Maine, meister’s herbal liqueur, strong, and is made from apricot stones, roasted Arabica coffee and a hint of producing that familiar, sweet almond chocolate. Try it: Shake the bottle and sip flavor. it as an ice cold shot. It can be customary to finish a meal with a cup Kamora Coffee Liqueur is also import- of coffee or a glass of amaro— an Italian herbal Amaretto Coffee courtesy foodnetwork.com ed from Mexico and features a rich, dark liqueur usually sipped as an after-dinner digestif. and sweet coffee flavor. But why settle? This delicate and lightly alcoholic 2 ounces amaretto cocktail makes the best of both of these favorites. Strong coffee Kapali Coffee Liqueur is another op- Whipped cream tion, often said to have deeper and more Siciliano Cinnamon sticks complex coffee notes on the nose, with courtesy bonappetit.com both roasted and sweet aromas. Cinnamon 2 ounces sweet (preferably Italian) Nutmeg Southern Star Double Shot Coffee 1 ½ ounces amaro Pour amaretto into a clear glass mug Bourbon is a blend of 1 ½ ounces strong cold-brew coffee rich cream whiskey and coffee. It has an and add coffee. Add a cinnamon stick 1 ounce simple syrup added toffee finish and provides a velvety and garnish with whipped cream, Club soda finish. cinnamon and nutmeg. Orange wheel is a sweet liqueur with a strong coffee character and complex aro- Mix vermouth, amaro, coffee and matics. Tia Maria has a Jamaican rum base simple syrup in a tumbler. Add ice to and uses cold brew extraction, providing fill, and top off with club soda. Garnish a distinctive roasted, full-bodied taste. with the orange wheel and serve.

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Perhaps one of the most celebrated coffee Originally created at Upstairs at The Gwen, While Kahlua tends to be a popular choice cocktails is the tried-and-true . in Chicago, Café con Correcto con Coco, a for cocktails that call for coffee -lavored li- This cocktail was said to have been invented slightly sweet coffee-based sipper, is crafted queur, there are other options. Kamora Coffee by Irish chef Joe Sheridan at a wind-whipped by mixologists who use a coffee cordial and Liqueur is similar to Kahlua and offers addi- airport near Limerick in the 1940s. A group real coconut water. Since these things aren’t tional vanilla, chocolate and caramel notes. of stranded passengers needed a little com- always readily available at home, there’s an fort, so the mix of and coffee easy version: Just substitute your own coffee Kamora Takes seemed a natural. It’s now one of the most and almond in place of the cordial and courtesy kamorausa.com favored drinks in its home country, and a coconut water. 1 ounce Kamora Coffee Liqueur popular way to sip coffee. 1 ounce Knob Creek Kentucky Café con Correcto con Coco Straight courtesy .com ¾ ounce sweet vermouth Irish Coffee ¾ ounce rum 1 Maraschino cherry courtesy cocktails.about.com ¾ ounce whiskey Coffee beans 4 ounces strong, rich hot coffee 1 ounce brewed coffee Add the Kamora, Knob Creek and vermouth 1 ounce Irish whiskey 1 ounce almond milk to an ice-filled glass. Shake and strain into a 2 teaspoons brown sugar Pour the rum, whiskey and coffee into a heat- Manhattan glass. Garnish with coffee beans 1 ounce lightly whipped double cream ed Irish coffee mug. Top with the almond milk. and/or the Maraschino cherry. Pour the sugar then coffee into a warm Irish coffee glass or mug. Stir until dissolved, and then add the Irish whiskey and stir again. Float the cream on top by pouring it over the back of a spoon. A layered shot, the Rattlesnake pro- Rattlesnake courtesy mrbostondrinks.com Do not stir again — instead, drink the vides coffee flavor without any actual coffee through the cream. coffee. The key to making a layered ½ ounce coffee liqueur shot is to start with the densest liquor ½ ounce white crème de cacao first, and add the other ingredients ½ ounce liqueur slowly, over the back of a spoon. The beauty of adding real coffee to a cock- In the order listed above, float each ingredient tail (or in this case ) is that it brings carefully, over the back of a barspoon into caffeine to the party, serving as a bit of a pick- a cordial or shot glass. Each ingredient me-up if you feel your energy should layer onto the flagging. In addition preceding one. to being a simple drink to make, this espresso can do just that. According to legend, the was invented by leg- endary London Dick Bradsell in 1983, who came up with the idea of mixing espresso, Kahlua and a touch of sweetness.

Espresso Martini >> 1 ounce vodka ¾ ounce coffee liqueur 1 shot espresso Espresso beans for garnish Combine the vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso into a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with espresso beans.

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