“Coffee” Liqueur
For this week’s Drinks Around the World we are staying in the US but heading to the opposite corner of the country from last week. In fact we are right here in my area of the country, Seattle.
You would have to be totally out of it not to know about Starbucks Coffee company. In big cities there are often locations right across the street from each other, and even many small cities have at least one, if not more, location. In addition to their standalone stores, Starbucks kiosks can be found in grocery stores, hotel lobbies and sports stadiums. And this is not just in the US but across the world.
And you probably know that over the years Starbucks has broadened their focus with different projects like Hear Music, a venture that includes books and movies as well as music. They have also developed partnerships with some well-known businesses, such as their joint project with Dreyer’s that produces Starbucks Ice Cream. Some of their ventures have worked better than others but one that seems to have been very successful has been their venture into the world of liqueurs via a partnership with Jim Beam and Fortune Brands.
Not quite two years ago they launched Starbucks Coffee Liqueur. It was followed some time later by Starbucks Cream Liqueur. Both of these products are indicative of the Starbucks way of doing things. The coffee liqueur is deeper, darker and stronger (coffee-flavor) than most other coffee liqueurs. The cream liqueur actually has a little hint of coffee flavor, too. On their own or mixed they are very nice liqueurs. At this time of year packaging up a bottle of one or the other with a pound of coffee makes a great hostess or holiday gift!
In October, Starbucks announced their expansion into the Canadian market where both products are now available. As in the US, the liqueurs are not available in the Starbucks coffee shops but are sold through normal liqueur outlets.
The very first cocktail I had made with one of these products was the Mochatini. I first had it at en event and it was good enough to make me want to replicate it at home, which I soon did.
Mochatini
- 1 part Starbucks Coffee Liqueur
- 1/2 part Dark Creme de Cacao (I had clear on hand and it was fine)
- 1 part Absolut Vanilia Vodka
Shake and strain into a martini glass rimmed with a chocolate and turbinado sugar. (I used Dutch-process cocoa mixed with superfine sugar. I wet the rim by running it through a slit in an orange. The slight flavor of orange essence adds a nice touch.)
