Episode 30

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Published on:

30th Oct 2020

Episode 30: Kahlúa

Episode 30 features Kahlúa. The famous coffee liqueur, it is bottled at 20% ABV, or 40 proof.

Enjoy this episode with some Kahlúa straight, chilled, over ice cream in a Black or White Russian, or in a Spanish Coffee!

Kahlúa official website: https://www.kahlua.com/us/

Brief Historical Timeline:

  • 1936 - Created in Veracruz, Mexico
  • 1940s - Kahlúa introduced to the US Market
  • 1953 - Jules Berman secures the US bottling rights and begins marketing
  • 1955 - The White Russian is invented in Oakland, California
  • 1964 - Hirman Walker and Sons takes over in the US
  • 1970s - Considerable marketing efforts are put behind Kahlúa
  • 1989 - Hirman Walker and Allied Domecq, the Mexican manufacturer, merge
  • 1998 - The Big Lebowski movie debuts, co-starring the White Russian
  • 2004 - Proof drops from 53 to 40, except for Ohio that settles at 43
  • 2005 - Pernod Ricard acquires Kahlúa via merger
  • 2007 - Packaging is updated
  • 2019 - Worldwide case sales are 1.9 million 9 liter equivalent

Key Cocktails:

Any way you like Kahlúa is a good way!

Huber's Restaurant Spanish Coffee is my favorite, see it made in this YouTube video, then try it yourself:

Spanish Coffee:

3/4 oz 151-Proof Rum

1/4 oz Triple Sec

1 1/2 oz Kahlúa

3 oz Coffee

Garnish with lightly whipped cream and grated nutmeg

Rum a lemon wedge around the rim of a glass, then coat with sugar. Add rum and triple sec, ignite and slowly turn the glass to caramelize the sugar. Add Kahlúa, then coffee while the drink is still alight. Extinguish with the cream floated gently on top. Garnish with nutmeg and serve.

References:

Wikipedia article on Kahlúa

Imbibe Magazine article on Huber's Spanish Coffee

YouTube Promotional Film from the 1970s

1990 article on Kahlúa marketing

Ohio higher proof explanation

Article referencing Kahlúa's founders

YouTube Video - The Dude Explains the Perfect White Russian

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

Join my mailing list: http://eepurl.com/hfyhHf

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Twitter: @LLConnoisseur

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About the Podcast

Liquor and Liqueur Connoisseur
Podcast dedicated to drinking, discussing, and discovering the world of distilled spirits.
Liquor and Liqueur Connoisseur is a podcast for anyone that enjoys distilled spirits!

Built on the premise of drinking, discussing, and discovering the world of distilled spirits, each episode features consistent tastings and much more. The featured spirit's backstory is covered, including history of production, marketing, availability, notable events for the spirit, as well as personal stories on enjoyment.

This podcast features new episodes at least weekly, and is the work of host Matt Birchard, who created the podcast as a way to keep a new year's resolution to himself - which was to drink more!

So enjoy each episode whenever you have time, but it's recommended you enjoy a liquor or liqueur during the show!

About your host

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Matthew Birchard

I'm a fan of distilled spirits, and marketer by trade. Native of Portland, Oregon, USA.