Feel Like a Taste of Mexico? Reach for Kahlua
Written: Dec 30 '02 (Updated Aug 08 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sweet, tasty- makes great drinks
Cons: High Price!
The Bottom Line: Kahlua is an excellent liqueur, although the price is quite high
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Kahlua Licor de Cafe |
Kahlua Licor de Café is a coffee- flavored liqueur that is produced in Mexico. This expensive liqueur is used in many sweet mixed drinks that were once made with coffee- flavored brandy or some other coffee- based type of spirit.
Basic Characteristics of This Product:
Kahlua is dark brown in color with a body that is thicker than most other types of alcoholic beverages. It’s not thick to the point of being syrup- like in consistency, but it is thicker than the stronger types of liquor and most other types of liqueur.
This liqueur is sweet, and it’s taste characteristic is primarily coffee, but there are other tastes that are present as well. Drank on the rocks, I can taste a roasted, burnt flavor along with a touch of vanilla. Some others have suggested that the taste of chocolate is also present, but my palate cannot detect anything like that.
Compared to other types of alcohol found in your local liquor store, Kahlua is actually a little bit on the weak side. It is listed as 53 proof, which makes it 26.5 percent alcohol by volume. That’s less alcohol than the majority of liquor/liqueur that you can buy. And the sweetness level helps to mask much of the alcoholic taste. Even if tasted straight- up, there is enough sugar that you don’t instantly pucker up, like you do when you taste the bitterness of a shot of, say, tequila or vodka.
Drinks Made with Kahlua:
There are many good- tasting drinks that are made with this liqueur. Here’s a listing of some of the more common drinks made with Kahlua:
1. Black Russian
Mix 2 parts vodka with 1 part Kahlua
2. White Russian
Mix 2 parts vodka with 1 part Kahlua, then add cream or half and half
3. Mud Slide
Mix equal parts of vodka, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Kahlua (it’s also popular to blend this with ice and serve as a frozen drink)
4. Kahlua Cream Soda
Mix 4 parts soda water, 1.5 parts whipping cream, and 1 part Kahlua
5. Toasted Almond
Mix equal parts of Amaretto and Kahlua, then add cream (Note: This is my personal favorite, among Kahlua mixed drinks)
6. Kahlua and Coffee
Mix a shot (1 to 1.5 oz.) Kahlua with a cup of your favorite hot coffee. There is no distinct recipe or formula for this. It can be black coffee, or coffee with sugar and cream, whatever fits your fancy.
Final Thoughts:
Kahlua is one of my favorite types of liqueur. It’s rare that I consume mixed drinks (beer is my preference) but when I do, I usually request something that’s sweet and chocolatey or that emphasizes the taste of something other than fruit. Kahlua fits nicely into my taste preferences.
If there’s one bad thing to say about this liqueur, it’s definitely the price! A 750 ml bottle of Kahlua will cost you from $18 to $25, depending on where you make the purchase. This high price makes Kahlua triple the cost of an equal volume of cheap vodka, whiskey, etc., and nearly double the price of an equal volume of premium booze. But its higher- than- average price also makes it a beverage for special occasions and special treats. With a price tag at this level, you won’t likely see individuals chugging shots of Kahlua solely for the purpose of getting a good buzz. It’s too costly to waste on something like that.
Probably another reason why I enjoy Kahlua is that the taste reminds me, in some ways, to a good glass of stout or porter (I can just see all the Epinions members rolling their eyes now, thinking “Bryan, you just had to compare this to beer, didn’t you!). The emphasis on roasted coffee with hints of vanilla and just a touch of burnt flavor is very similar to the taste that you will find in many of the world’s best stouts and/or porters.
I enjoy the versatility of Kahlua as much as the taste. Not only does this liqueur make great- tasting drinks, but it’s also an excellent addition to many recipes, including cakes, brownies, tiramisu, pie, and other desserts. And it’s not uncommon to find recipes for other non- dessert foods that call for Kahlua, like salsa, teriyaki beef and chicken, and others.
Overall, this is an excellent liqueur that I enjoy from time to time. It’s not often that I purchase liqueur or hard liquor (I think I bought, maybe, two bottles in the past year). But when I do, Kahlua is one of my all- time favorites. Incidentally, this is one of the highest- rated types of alcoholic beverages in the Epinions site (57 out of 58 who have reviewed/rated it give it a recommendation), and it’s easy to see why. Who can resist the taste of a Toasted Almond or Mudslide?
Try some Kahlua today, and see how good- tasting coffee liqueur can be. It tastes great in mixed drinks, and even straight- up, all by itself. It costs a little more, but it’s worth the investment and it’s an essential addition to any liquor cabinet.
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Recommended:
Yes
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