This bourbon carajillo is a riff on the Mexican cocktail that combines Licor 43 and espresso. This version ups the ante and adds bourbon and aromatic bitters for a boozier and spicier twist on the classic. I also highly encourage adding an orange slice to bring out those citrusy notes and to make it even more refreshing.
Espresso cocktails are some of my absolute favorites, especially when they combine bourbon and espresso. This bourbon espresso old fashioned and bourbon espresso martini are some of my favorites!
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⭐ Why you will love this recipe:
- It's the perfect cocktail for bourbon and espresso lovers! The sweet vanilla and citrus notes in Licor 43 are a perfect match for bourbon and espresso.
- It's the perfect alternative to the espresso martini! This is simpler, sweeter, and more refreshing than an espresso martini.
- Licor 43 is delicious, and you will want to find more cocktails to use it in. Licor 43 is a Spanish liqueur that tastes of citrus and vanilla with underlying notes of spice and is really delicous.
🥃 Key Ingredients:
- Espresso: A single shot of freshly brewed espresso is the coffee element used in the cocktail. Using true espresso is key; I would not substitute for regular drip coffee as it's not as strong.
- Bourbon: Bourbon is the key ingredient in any old-fashioned, so using the best one that goes well with the espresso and brown sugar is key. A sweet but well-balanced bourbon is my favorite. I used Woodford Reserve Double Oaked for this recipe.
- Licor 43: This is a Spanish liqueur that tastes of citrus and vanilla with underlying notes of spice. It is really delicious with bourbon and espresso.
- Aromatic Bitters: these bitters add bitterness and a bit of spice to the cocktail; my go-to is Angostura
🔪 How to make this recipe:
- Step 1: Brew the espresso.
- Step 2: Add 1 ½ ounces of espresso (1 shot), 1 ounce of Licor 43, 1 ounce of bourbon, and 1 dash of aromatic bitters to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Step 3: Shake for 30 seconds, then strain into a glass with ice.
- Step 4: Garnish with an orange slice and enjoy!
💭 Expert Tips:
Freshly brewed espresso works best, but you can substitute it for concentrated cold brew.
Suggested Barware: Use a jigger to measure your ingredients accurately.
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Bourbon Carajillo
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: cocktail
- Method: shaken
- Cuisine: Mexican
Description
This bourbon carajillo is a riff on the Mexican cocktail that combines Licor 43 and espresso. This version ups the ante and adds bourbon and aromatic bitters for a boozier and spicier twist on the classic.
Ingredients
- 1 shot espresso (1 ½ ounces)
- 1 ounce bourbon
- 1 ounce Licor 43
- 1 dash of aromatic bitters
- 1 orange slice
Instructions
- Start by brewing the espresso.
- Then add 1 ½ ounces of espresso (1 shot), 1 ounce of Licor 43, 1 ounce of bourbon, and 1 dash of aromatic bitters to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake for 30 seconds, then strain into a glass with ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice and espresso beans, and enjoy!
Elizabeth says
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Mason says
Using freshly brewed espresso, meaning hot espresso, watered this drink down more than I preferred as the hot water based espresso melted the ice too much. We tried it again the next day with cold brew espresso we did overnight and preferred it much more. Just our opinion on this cocktail