Yeah, you've probs had your fair share of a certain coffee liqueur in the form of a cheeky shot or three on a night out, or mixed in an Espresso Martini. But there's a handful of coffee liqueurs out there that are worth savouring on their own, poured over a fat cube of ice and sipped as an aperitivo hour pick-me-up or an after-dinner bev. You're gonna want to add these bottles to your collection, hun. 

Mr Black Mezcal Cask Coffee Liqueur

Aussies love coffee like Brits love queuing, so it's no surprise that one of our fave coffee liqueur brands hails from the Land Down Under. Mr Black makes a few different versions, including its classic Cold Brew bottling and another coffee liqueur finished in rum barrels, but we're currently loving the Mezcal Cask Edition. To make this bad boy, the team takes their signature coffee liqueur and rests it in Ilegal Mezcal casks for three months, then adds Ilegal Mezcal to the mix for an extra punch. It's great on its own over ice, with lush notes of dark chocolate, nutmeg, cinnamon and a light smoky finish, and it also makes a wicked Negroni riff - swap it for the Campari and thank us later.

25% ABV | £35, mrblack.co

Quick Brown Fox Coffee Liqueur

Who needs dessert when you've got this? Hailing from New Zealand, Quick Brown Fox is all about keeping it real, using organic and fair-trade roasted coffee, raw sugar and a pinch of cinnamon to create a liqueur that's got just the right balance of sweetness and bitterness - which, come to think of it, sounds a little bit like our personality. Try pouring a shot of this stuff over vanilla ice cream for a next-level affogato. 

20% ABV | £25, majestic.co.uk

Maraba Coffee Liqueur

This caffeinated elixir from Gorilla Spirits is named after the Rwandan district of Maraba, which produces some of the best coffee in the world. To make the liqueur, Red Bourbon Arabica coffee beans from the region's independent growers are roasted and ground at Moonroast Coffee in Hampshire before heading a few miles down the road to the Gorilla Spirits distillery, where they are cold-brewed and crafted into their final form. Yup, we'd sip this solo, but we also love the brand's suggestion of adding it to a pint of Guinness. Bold move.   

25% ABV | £25, gorillaspirits.co.uk

Cazcabel Coffee Liqueur

Tequila + coffee = the ultimate dancing-on-the-tables fuel. At 34% alcohol, Cazcabel Coffee is the punchiest liqueur of the bunch, and we dig the luscious texture and full flavour the extra hit of booze brings. Expect rich, creamy vanilla, sweet chocolate and a touch of bitterness, with some fresh earthy agave notes chillin' in the background. This stuff is worth sipping slowly for maximum enjoyment, but it was also born for an Espresso Martini, and if you're really feelin' frisky, it's genuinely tasty as a shot. Drink responsibly, y'all.

34% ABV | £24, masterofmalt.com

Twin Fin Cold Brew Coffee Rum Liqueur

Twin Fin comes from the mind of the same master distiller who brought us Tarquin's Gin, so the team behind this Cornish rum brand know a thing or two about making kick-ass spirits. This buzzy booze is a combination of locally roasted coffee that's been cold-brewed, plus Jamaican pot still and light Dominican Republic column still rums (and sugar - that's crucial). The resulting java juice is rich and sweet, with loads of fresh-brewed coffee and chocolate flavours and a bit of nuttiness - marzipan latte vibes. Get it down ya in the form of a gorg Irish Coffee riff called the Kernow Coffee.

25% ABV | £28, twinfinrum.com

16/09/2022

Want more coffee-infused spirits? These bottles will fill the Cafe Patrón-shaped hole in your heart.