This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Mocha Spiked Horchata is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that we 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 since 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:
Tequila Blanco: This is the base spirit. It’s a type of tequila made with unaged agave. We used El Jimador Tequila Blanco because it has a light and palatable agave flavor and is affordable. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Agave Blanco Spirit in place of the tequila.
Horchata: This is a creamy beverage made with various ingredients depending on the culture. We went with Licor 43 Horchata, a silky Spanish liqueur made from tiger nuts. For a mocktail version of this drink, try homemade horchata made with rice, almonds, water, cinnamon, and vanilla in place of the liqueur.
Cold-Brew Coffee: This is a coffee made with water, ground coffee beans, and ice. We made ours at home with one of Alex’s favorite local coffee roasts.
Chocolate Bitters: This is a type of spirit infused with cocoa and botanicals. They add chocolate flavor and spice to the drink for more complexity. We used Angostura Cocoa Bitters because they have deep chocolate and caramel notes.
Ground Cinnamon: This is the garnish. We used Simply Organic Ground Cinnamon.
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 made it 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 lover of coffee 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 tequila, horchata, cold-brew coffee, bitters, and ice to a lowball glass.
Stir for 5-10 seconds.
Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Ingredients
Directions
Add tequila, horchata, cold-brew coffee, bitters, and ice to a lowball glass.
Stir for 5-10 seconds.
Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Agave Reserva Spirit in place of the tequila and homemade horchata in place of the liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
Tools & Glassware We Recommend
More Winter Cocktails
If you like this winter 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
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2023-04-01.
