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Coffee liqueurs are a versatile bunch – used in classic and boutique cocktails, but also delicious straight or enjoyed as a digestif. Coffee liqueur is the thing to turn to when your night out needs an extra kick. The growing coffee liqueur market spans coffee-infused tequila and rum, vodka and grappa; no more are big names like Kahlua and Tia Maria hogging all the attention.

Dead Man’s Fingers Coffee Rum, 700ml, United Kingdom, $49.99

This red-brown bottle from England emblazoned with a skull holds some excellent coffee rum. Use it in a modern take on the espresso martini, or shake it into a white Russian to make a spiced cocktail with an edge. This liqueur is all coffee, orange, chocolate, vanilla and raisins, and we found lingering notes of cloves and cumin as well. It has a kick at 40 percent alcohol, but then nothing about this drink says reserved, and it delivers on its promise.

Patron XO Café, 700ml, Mexico, $75.99

Patron is known for its tequila, and this coffee-flavoured variety doesn’t disappoint. It’s rich, packs a fresh-ground-coffee punch, and is smooth even when poured straight over ice. It’s peppery without being spicy, and offers an element of sophistication. By all means add it to an espresso martini – Patron XO Café will only raise the bar.

Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, 700ml, New South Wales, $59.99

This one is as much for the coffee lovers as for the cocktail makers – a worthy addition to the discerning bar cart. Crafted at a small distillery on the New South Wales Central Coast, Mr Black uses cold-pressed, single-origin coffee beans from Ethiopia, Brazil and Papua New Guinea.  There’s a strong, lovely fresh-coffee flavour: we say make the most of it by drinking this straight over ice. It works in cocktails too, especially where strong coffee plays a starring role. The bottle design is striking and elegant, with an artwork revealed as the liquid gets lower.

Wolf Lane Distillery The Barista, 500ml, Queensland, $49

With a touch of sweetness that’s far from cloying, this coffee liqueur is made for pouring over ice, or shaking into an espresso martini. Its single-origin coffee is sourced from Tropical North Queensland. Wolf Lane also does a pre-mixed espresso martini in a bottle, with enough for two drinks. Keep it chilled, shake and pour; it’s as simple as cocktail making gets. The Barista bottle is another quirky design from a boutique distillery.

Jumping Goat Coffee Infused Vodka Liqueur, 700ml, New Zealand, $54.99

A liqueur for those who think coffee and vodka are the ideal way to jump-start a night. The vodka element is redistilled New Zealand whey vodka, using a bi-product of milk production. We love that they use real coffee in their infusions, all fair-trade, organic-certified and roasted and ground fresh for each batch in its bright-red bottle. Shake this strong liqueur with fresh espresso for an espresso martini with a big hit. This is cocktails made easy – ready to go and top notch.

Pietro Gallus Estate Grappa al Caffè, 500ml, Victoria, $64.95

This multi award-winning liqueur is a beautiful union of coffee and grappa. It’s inspired by the Italian classic cocktail caffè corretto, which combines a shot of espresso with grappa or brandy. This Australian product has syrupy flavours evocative of tiramisu, and uses cold-brew coffee with the label’s Pietro Gallus Estate Grappa. It’s a pleasing, unique drop, and by using grappa instead of instead of vodka or rum is a welcome challenger in the well-covered coffee liqueur space.

Are there different types of coffee liqueurs?

There are different types of coffee liqueurs, each using different bases such as vodka and rum. To produce the liqueur, roasted coffee is steeped in alcohol, along with sugar and other ingredients such as vanilla.

How should I serve coffee liqueur?

Coffee liqueurs come with different levels of sweetness and coffee strengths, and can be served over ice or used in cocktails including a white Russian, a mix of coffee liqueur, vodka and cream; or an espresso martini – coffee liqueur, vodka, sugar syrup, espresso and ice, shaken well. Try a baby stout; a super-simple cocktail made with two parts coffee liqueur to one part Irish cream. Pour the liqueur into a small, chilled tumbler, then top with Irish cream.

Is coffee liqueur the same as Kahlua?

One of the most well-known and popular coffee liqueur brands is Kahlua, which has been produced in Mexico since 1936.  

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