Mocha Spiked Horchata

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Cocktail History

The Mocha Spiked Horchata is a Novel Nightcaps 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, but this version calls for tequila because horchata is often associated with Spanish culture. It also adds in a few dashes of chocolate bitters to complement the coffee and cinnamon flavors.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Horchata Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with traditional horchata ingredients, such as rice, almonds, cinnamon, and vanilla, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a rich, creamy flavor.

Tequila Reposado: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with fermented blue agave and yeast, which are distilled and then briefly aged to develop a balanced, slightly oaky flavor.

Coffee Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coffee, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bold, roasted coffee flavor.

Chocolate Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with chocolate, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a bittersweet, chocolate flavor.

Ground Cinnamon: This is a spice. I 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. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Creamy white color

• Aroma: Cinnamon and coffee

• Taste: Creamy herbal flavor with agave and vanilla

• Finish: Rich coffee and spices

Kendall’s Take: “This was also my first time trying horchata, and I am a fan! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I 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! The Mocha Spiced Horchata very tasty. And if you’ve never tried it like I hadn’t, this is a good first cocktail to try it in.”

Recipe