Coffee Drinks
While we know that there are going to be a few more weeks of the nice, summery weather, when September rolls around and the Labour Day weekend is in the rear view, it’s probably back to the grind for most people. The vacation days are done, and you may be getting back to your heavily caffeinated mornings. While we don’t advocate these coffee flavoured spirits for your morning coffee, maybe they’ll work in your evenings, or those well-deserved weekends.
Van Gogh Espresso Vodka, Holland
A long time presence in the Alberta market for espresso vodkas, this one opens up slowly in the glass but in a few moments, we start smelling the rich coffee notes with citrus and a little bit of cocoa too. A little lower in alcohol with 35 percent ABV, this gives an almost sweet finish and sense of body. Would work very well in more complex mixed drinks.
CSPC 721256, around $50
Back 40 Farmers Blend Coffee Liquor, Alberta
A favourite when it comes to coffee flavoured liqueurs, carrying an excellent balance of spirit notes, but more importantly, rich, robust coffee flavours. Not too sweet, but the coffee has the right taste for those that like their coffee a little stronger – but not bitter. Perfect for “topping up” your coffee on the weekends, or in any manner of mixed drinks that need the café perk.
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CSPC 800163 $38-42
Bepi Tosolini Expre Premium Coffee Liqueur, Italy
Giuseppe (Bepi) Tosolini spent 75 years of his life in Friuli, northeast Italy, distilling grapes to make grappa and grappa-based spirits, and raise the quality of both. It really shows in a liqueur like Expre, where arabic beans are distilled in grape spirit, and won’t go unnoticed by espresso drinkers and aficionados. It’s sweet with rounded bitter edges, and reminds me of eating dark chocolate-covered caramels while sipping strong black coffee.
CSPC 795129 $48-50
Park Distillery Espresso Vodka, Alberta
Carefully balancing the delicacy and bitterness of espresso beans with the very finely crafted vodka from Park Distillery in Banff, this is a treat for the senses. Well integrated flavourings coupled with smooth vodka notes, this likely isn’t much of a sipping vodka, but wow does it work well in those cocktails.
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CSPC 778210, around $50
Luxardo Espresso, Italy
Newest in Luxardo’s extensive lineup of liqueurs, Espresso is a blend of predominantly Arabica coffees from Brazil, Columbia, and Kenya, heat-infused in neutral spirit for a month, and sweetened with a little sugar beet spirit, to give an intense espresso-style drink. It’s chocolatey, smoky, and with just the right amount of bitterness on the finish when poured over ice for a satisfying after-dinner drink or chilled as a martini before your meal.
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CSPC 100999 $25-28
Copper Club Espresso Martini, Alberta
A lighter style of ready-to-drink espresso martini, made from vodka and coffee liqueur sweetened with cane sugar, Copper Club suggest on the front label to simply shake it with ice and strain – and it’s ready to roll. Indeed, and very easy to drink even at 20 percent ABV. It’s a crowd-pleaser, so get out your martini glasses and invite the crowd over!
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CSPC 108176 $24-29
Cappuccino King Brandy Caffe, Alberta
Cappuccino King are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and were looking for ways to commemorate the occasion. Planning for something small to give as gifts, when they joined forces with neighbours, Bridgeland Distillery, the project developed and grew. Brandy Caffe is a blend of Vince’s Blend Italian Roast coffee with Bridgeland’s brandy to give a deep, rich roast, full-on coffee brandy – a perfect way to finish any meal!
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$48 at the distillery
Galliano Espresso Liqueur, Holland
A perfect liqueur to sip and savour with the citrus and spiciness of good espresso and a heathy enthusiasm for welcoming sweetness. Vaguely peppermint flavoured on the palate too, it’s pleasant enough to enjoy neat or over ice, but would be excellent in coffee- or chocolate- based cocktails. Yum!
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822894 $18-20, 375 mL
Bols Cocktails Espresso Martini, Netherlands
While making an espresso martini at home isn’t too hard, sometimes you just want to be able to enjoy one without the fuss and in an extra-convenient format. Very smooth, and very enjoyable on all counts, but best off all is that each of the ingredients has a moment to shine on the palate and it finishes so well. Only a garnish of a few coffee beans and a glass are required!
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CSPC 857458 $22-24
Crystal Head Espresso Martini, USA
Well, Crystal Head have done all the work for us. Their brand new small batch (and small size too, with convenient pocket- or purse-size 100 mL cans) are a blend of their original Canadian corn vodka with nitro-brewed coffee – and a little chocolate and agave added to give a bitter-sweet, and lip-smacking espresso martini for a no fuss, anytime drink.
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CSPC 109067 $5-6