Three classic Kahlúa cocktails + the truth about mudslides

If you love the bitter, rich and nuanced flavor of coffee, a Kahlúa cocktail may be just the nightcap for you. Versatile and smooth, Kahlúa drinks can be delicious on the rocks, straight up in a classy martini glass. And of course blended into a boozy milkshake (you know you want to). Which is technically NOT a mudslide…

What is Kahlúa?

Kahlúa is a coffee-scented liqueur that hails from Mexico. Rich in color and bitter espresso flavor, this elixir is a popular ingredient for cocktails, milkshakes and desserts alike. Crafted from 100% arabica coffee (the good stuff) with rum as the accelerant, the liqueur contains a small amount of caffeine. But nowhere near the amount in even a quarter cup of brewed coffee.

The makers claim Kahlúa is allergen free, and safe for a gluten-free diet. It is absolutely loaded with sugar – 28 grams in a double shot. So perhaps best enjoyed as an occasional indulgence. For a lower calorie cocktail that also hails from Mexico, check out my article on how to make an authentic margarita.

#1. The Most Classic Kahlúa Drink: a White Russian

The most popular of all the Kahlúa drinks is the white Russian. Definitely a retro cocktail, this one is as simple to make as pouring a glass of milk. And a no-fuss way to sip a silky, sweet, coffee-laced night cap.

White Russian Cocktail Recipe

• 2 ounces or double shot of Kahlúa
• 1 ounces or single shot of vodka
• 1 ounce or single shot of heavy cream or dairy-free milk

Mixology Method. In a rocks glass filled with ice, pour in Kahlúa and your choice of vodka (Absolut is traditional). Top with a single shot of heavy cream. This will give you the signature look of this classic Kahlúa drink, with the dark liqueur resting beneath a pillowy cloud of cream on top.

White Russian Variations. For a milder sip, splash more cream or top off with a couple splashes of your favorite milk.

Dairy-Free White Russian. If you eat a dairy-free diet, any plant-based milk will be just as delicious. For instance, pure coconut cream is especially indulgent, if you enjoy that particular flavor. Friendly reminder, however, Kahlúa is not vegan.

#2. Black Russian: The white Russian’s surly sibling

This Kahlúa drink is not for the faint-hearted. All booze, served on the rocks. The difference between a white Russian and a black Russian is the absence of any non-alcoholic mixer like heavy cream or milk.

Since this one is heavy on the vodka, I’d recommend a decent brand like Absolut or Ketel One. Whichever vodka you choose, sip it slow!

Black Russian Cocktail Recipe

• 2 parts vodka
• 1 part Kahlúa

Mixology Method. Nothing to see here, pour the ingredients in a rocks glass over ice, and garnish with a dark cherry. A little swish with a cocktail stirrer wouldn’t be out of line.

Martini-Style Black Russian Method

#1. Dip the rim of a martini glass in a bowl filled with a little Kahlúa, and coat with shaved chocolate. Or simply squeeze a little chocolate sauce or syrup around the inside of the top of the rim.

#2. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, Kahlúa and ice, and shake until it frosts over.

#3. Pour shaken ingredients into martini glass, and garnish with an espresso bean.

#3. The Mudslide: The most misunderstood of all the Kahlúa drinks

A true mudslide is a cocktail of coffee liqueur, vodka and Irish cream. The story goes the mudslide was created when a Caribbean-island bartender substituted Irish cream when out of the traditional heavy cream. One lucky customer.

Tale aside, an authentic mudslide is a shaken cocktail, served in a rocks glass over ice. If you’re feeling fancy, garnish your mudslide with a few chocolate shavings. If you’re looking for a frozen mudslide AKA a boozy coffee milkshake, keep reading.

Authentic Mudslide Cocktail

• 1 ounce or single shot Kahlúa
• 1 ounce or single shot vodka
• 1½ ounces Irish Cream
• chocolate shavings or chocolate-covered espresso bean, optional

Mixology Method. Combine all three liquors in a cocktail shaker with ample ice. Shake until it frosts over, and pour into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with chocolate shavings or chocolate espresso beans.

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The Infamous Frozen “Mudslide” AKA Boozy Milkshake

Let’s call it what it is, the frozen mudslide is a boozy milkshake. And send thank you karma out into the world to whoever came up with it.

Words of caution. This frozen drink is a health crisis masquerading around in a cocktail glass. So much sugar. And so much saturated fat. Kick these back perhaps once a year, on a hot summer night when the mood is right. The rest of the time, enjoy a nice glass of red or a low-carb lemon drop. Which by the way, is NOT a martini.

How to make a frozen mudslide drink

Since the milkshake element of this version is the main event, the booze can be mixed up in a variety of satisfying amounts. For a true frozen mudslide, the only additional ingredient is vanilla ice cream.

• 1 ounce or single shot Kahlua
• 1 ounce or single shot vodka
• 1 ounce or single shot Irish Cream
• 3 scoops vanilla ice cream (a heaping cup)
• a little ice, crushed ideally
• chocolate sauce, shavings and/or chocolate-covered espresso beans

Mixology Method. Blend, baby, blend! Blend the first five ingredients until smooth. Pour into a hurricane glass (or other large beverage vessel) drizzled with chocolate sauce. Garnish with chocolate shavings or perhaps a chocolate-covered espresso bean, or three.

Like a thinner shake? If you want more volume or like a thinner drink, add a few tablespoons of milk before blending.

Like it a bit more Irish? Up the Irish cream and lessen the vodka. You can certainly lessen the Kahlúa, but that would remove the sought-after coffee punch.

Don’t like vodka? Leave it out! Your bar, you’re the boss.

Colorado Bulldog: the white Russian’s crazy cousin

One of the newcomers to the Kahlúa drinks club, this is the one all the kids are ordering. It’s a classic white Russian, topped off with a splash of cola. Often served in a shot glass, the following recipe calls for amounts that will serve up nice in an old-fashioned or rocks glass.

Words of caution. Classic soda like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are all kinds of bad for you. If you set out to enjoy a Colorado bulldog, reach for a craft cola without high fructose corn syrup and chemically-processed ingredients like caramel color. Diet sodas are no better for you, and best avoided at all costs.

Colorado Bulldog Cocktail

• 1 ounce or shot Kahlúa
• 1 ounce or shot vodka
• 1 ounce or shot heavy cream (half and half works, too)
• few splashes of cola, cane sugar-based recommended

Mixology Method. In a cocktail shaker with ice, shake Kahlúa, vodka and heavy cream until the shaker frosts over. Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice, and top off with cola.

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Kahlúa drinks for low-carb and keto diets

Yes, this is a stretch. But the Edible Times Husband keeps to a keto diet 80% of the time, and indulges in sweet cocktails occasionally. To take the carb count down a bit in any Kahlúa drink, simply decrease the amount of sugar-loaded Kahlúa. Replace whatever is lost in Kahlúa with vodka or rum (or cream for a weaker, higher in fat cocktail).

Kahlúa is intense, even half a shot will give any cocktail a wonderful coffee kick. Because that’s the whole point of Kahlúa anyway, right? A bit of a coffee deliciousness when the moment demands something more sinister than your morning cuppa.

Cheers,
Christina

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