27th February is celebrated as National Kahlua Day as a tribute to one of the best and most famous coffee liqueur in the world. The invention of Kahlua is documented to be in 1936 in Veracruz, Mexico, but it is believed that it has been around way before that. Invented by Alvarez brothers - Senior Blanco and Montalvo Lara, Kahlua is one of the finest coffee-based liqueurs from the finest ingredients. Kahlua popularized and became the favorite drink of many people as soon as it was exported to the United States in the 1940s. This sudden burst in popularity gave it a platform to rise and become the best-selling coffee liqueur in the world. Since then it is still one of the best-selling coffee liqueur and currently is owned by Pernod Ricard. 

Made with 100% Arabica coffee beans and rum, Kahlua is a full-bodied, rich coffee liqueur with a sweet finish. The whole process of producing a bottle can surprisingly take up to seven years. It is a brand with a rich history and portrays Mexican drinking culture in every serving. It is not only the main ingredient in many classic and popular cocktails but it is also used in cooking and baking. It works perfectly well in coffee-flavored desserts, ice cream, and cakes. To celebrate National Kahlua Day we have created a list of 7 famous and easy-to-mix coffee-flavored cocktails. This Kahlua Day, mix yourself with a Kahlua cocktail and read about the rich history and fun facts about your favorite drink. 

1. Espresso Martini

The Espresso Martini is one of the most famous coffee cocktails, mostly made from equal parts of vodka, coffee liqueur, and freshly brewed espresso. Invented in 1983 by the bartending guru Dick Bradsell at the Soho Brasserie, London, it was originally called "The Vodka Espresso". Dick is also known for revolutionizing the bartending scene back in the 1980s in London, by working in some of the finest bars and creating modern classics like Bramble, Treacle, Russian Spring Punch, and the Wibble. The Espresso Martini is rich and smooth with Kahlua perfectly balancing the bitterness of the espresso. Currently, there are different variations of Espresso Martini served according to the bar and the location, but here's how to make a perfect classic espresso martini. 

Ingredients:

1 oz Kahlua

1 oz Vodka

1 oz Espresso

Method:

Add all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously with ice to form a nice crema, double strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with three coffee beans. 

2. B-52

One of the well-known shots in the history of cocktails, B-52 is a work of art. Similar to many other cocktails the origin of this shot is still not completely clear, but the most acclaimed story is that it was invented by Peter Fich, Head Bartender at Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta back in 1977. Finch liked to name all his drinks after his favorite bands, therefore he came up with this name after the famous band of that time The B-52s. B-52 is an eye-appealing shot, which originally consisted of equal parts of Kahlua, Baileys Irish Cream, and Grand Marnier, perfectly layered to form a great visual effect of distinct layers. This well-constructed shot takes advantage of the different densities of liqueurs and is typically served in a shot glass. It is rich in taste, smooth in texture, and has a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. 

Ingredients:

0.5 oz Kahlua

0.5 oz Irish Cream

0.5 oz Orange Liqueur

Method:

Pour Kahlua into a shot glass, carefully pour the Irish Cream on top of Kahlua using the back of a bar spoon and then pour the Orange Liqueur on top using the same technique. 

3. White Russian

A classic coffee cocktail, White Russian is believed to have been crafted by Gustave Tops, a Belgian bartender at the Hotel Metropole, Brussels in honor of Perle Mesta who was then the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. Soon after the cocktail started to spread, eventually featuring in California's Oakland Tribune with the recipe in 1956. In 1998 the drink got a big stage when the movie "The Big Lebowski" was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where the lead character, The Dude drinks 9 White Russian in the two-hour film. Currently, it is the most consumed coffee cocktail in the world. It has a rich flavor of sweet Kahlua, smoothness of the cream with a kick of Vodka, here's how to make one. 

Ingredients:

1 oz Kahlua

1 oz Vodka

1 oz Heavy Cream

Method:

In an old-fashioned glass filled with ice, add Kahlua and Vodka, stir to mix, and layer your favorite cream on top. 

4. Coffee Margarita

Alcohol and coffee have been popular together for a long time. Margarita is the most popular tequila-based cocktail and no wonder someone has to combine it with coffee flavor. Yes, we have a caffeinated twist to the classic margarita which is listed among the top cocktails on the official website of Kahlua. Made with Kahlua, Tequila, cold brew coffee, and fresh lime juice, Coffee Margarita is a refreshing cocktail with a kick of caffeine, perfect for brunch. There are various margarita variations but this one is worth a try, here's how to mix coffee with your margarita. 

[[relatedPurchasesItems-31]]

Ingredients:

1 oz Kahlua

1 oz Tequila

0.5 oz Cold Brew Coffee

0.5 oz Lime Juice

Method:

Add all the ingredients to a shaker filled with ice, shake until the mix is chilled, double strain to a salt-rimmed serving glass filled with ice, and garnish with a lime wheel. 

5. Irish Coffee

The classic cocktail, Irish Coffee was born in the chilling winters of Ireland in the early 1940s by Chef Joe Sheridan. It has gone through many variations and changes to become popular. The original recipe calls for Irish Whiskey, hot coffee, sugar, and cream, but this delicious classic can also be made using Kahlua and tastes equally flavorful as the original recipe. It has a satisfying rich mouthfeel with strong coffee and Kahlua perfectly balancing the bitterness of the coffee with its sweet profile. There is a hot and a cold version of the cocktail, here's how to make the hot version of the popular caffeinated boozy drink. 

Ingredients:

1 oz Kahlua

1.5 oz Irish Whiskey

3 oz  Coffee

1 oz Whipped Cream

Method:

In an Irish coffee mug, add Kahlua, Irish whiskey, and freshly brewed coffee, stir gently to mix, top up with whipped cream and garnish with grated nutmeg. 

6. Mind Eraser

Mind Eraser is an interesting coffee-flavored cocktail, hailing from the cocktail revolution era in the 1980s. As the name suggests, the drink is refreshing and can ease your mind. It has fairly simple ingredients, Kahlua and Vodka topped up with a splash of club soda. It is basically a sparkling version of the Black Russian which gives more sense of refreshment. Mind Eraser is a cocktail that is meant to be enjoyed slowly on the rocks. You get to taste the smooth aftertaste of coffee in every sip. 

Ingredients:

1 oz Kahlua

1 oz Vodka

1 oz Club Soda

Method:

Add Kahlua into a serving glass filled with ice, layer the Vodka and Club Soda on the top and enjoy without stirring. 

7. Long Island Iced Coffee

Lastly, on the list, we have a contemporary cocktail from the official website of Kahlua which is a caffeinated variation of the popular party drink, the Long Island Iced Tea. The same old crazy highball drink can be made using coffee liqueur which has the kick of both coffee and liquor. It is a bold drink with a smooth finish and is perfect for a summer evening. Here are a few easy steps to make yourself the coffee version of the fascinating LIIT. 

Ingredients:

1 oz Kahlua

0.5 oz Vodka

0.5 oz White Rum

0.5 oz Blanco Tequila

0.5 oz Gin

0.5 oz Lime Juice

2.5 oz Cold Brew Coffee

Method:

Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously until the mix is chilled, strain into a highball glass filled with ice, and garnish with a lime wheel. 

Images Source: Instagram / Kahlúa

Article By Tushar Anand, Junior Writer, Beverage Trade Network