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Cocktail History
The Mocha Spiked Horchata is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created as a variation of a similar recipe from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH. The original called for a rum or whiskey base with one listed in the description and another listed in the recipe itself, so we weren’t sure which to go with and instead chose tequila because horchata is often associated with Spanish culture. We also added in a few dashes of chocolate bitters because we knew they would pair well with the coffee and cinnamon flavors.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Horchata: This is a creamy beverage made with various ingredients depending on the culture. We used Licor 43 Horchata, a silky Spanish liqueur made from tiger nuts. For a mocktail version of this drink, try homemade horchata in place of the horchata liqueur.
Tequila Reposado: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with blue agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged from two to twelve months. We used Casamigos Tequila Reposado because it has a light and sweet agave flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila.
Coffee Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coffee, spices, sugar, and alcohol. We used Mr. Black Spirits Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur because it has a bold coffee flavor with very little sweetness. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Coffee Original Non-Alcoholic Spirit in place of the coffee liqueur.
Chocolate Bitters: This is a food product made with chocolate, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters.
Ground Cinnamon: This is a spice. We used Simply Organic Ground Cinnamon.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Tasting Notes
The Mocha Spiked Horchata features cinnamon aromas and a delightfully creamy texture that combines the flavor of tequila’s signature agave with the Licor 43’s unique spiced herbal and vanilla blend all with a touch of rich coffee at the end, while the aftertaste goes out strongly with tequila and mingled spices.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: This recipe was definitely pleasing to both of our palates! It gave enough sweetness and complexity to be both indulgent yet still thoughtful and slow, and the touch of coffee liqueur made the Mocha Spiked Horchata the perfect kick of energy after a long, hard day.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I really enjoyed this cocktail, as a coffee lover especially. The Licor 43 Horchata brings all of the liqueur’s signature sweet and spiced flavors which naturally complement the creamy texture while tequila brings its agave notes and aftertaste, while coffee is present but far from overwhelming. The book we found this in actually had a typo where it said that the recipe should be made with bourbon in one spot but rum in another, so we decided to switch it up altogether and use tequila since Horchata is prominently a Mexican creation, and we loved the choice.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This was also my first time trying horchata, and I am a new fan! I wasn’t sure what to expect when we opted for a tequila base instead of rum or bourbon, but the agave spirit works very well in this recipe. The taste was pretty straightforward and unoffensive, with cream and cinnamon being the prominent flavors and a bit of tequila coming through while held in the mouth. If you’re a fan of horchata, whip this up! It’s very tasty. And if you’ve never tried it like I hadn’t, this is a good first cocktail to try it in.”
Recipe
Add horchata, tequila, coffee liqueur, bitters, and cubed ice to a lowball glass.
Stir for 5-10 seconds.
Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Ingredients
Directions
Add horchata, tequila, coffee liqueur, bitters, and cubed ice to a lowball glass.
Stir for 5-10 seconds.
Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Make It a Mocktail: Use homemade horchata in place of the horchata liqueur, Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila, and Lyre’s Coffee Original Non-Alcoholic Spirit in place of the coffee liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Winter Cocktails
If you like this winter-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Frostbite: A tequila cocktail made with blue curaçao, white crème de cacao, heavy cream, and a cherry
Winter Pimm’s Cup: A Pimm’s liqueur cocktail made with lemon juice, simple syrup, ginger syrup, American lager, blood orange slices, cranberries, rosemary, and oregano
Chartreuse Toddy: A brandy cocktail made with water, Green Chartreuse, lemon juice, honey syrup, and star anise
Winter Mojito: A rum cocktail made with lime juice, winter herb syrup, soda water, a lime slice, and rosemary
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