Pumpkin Spiked Horchata

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Cocktail History

The Pumpkin Spiked Horchata is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created in 2023. The recipe is a simple variation of the Mocha Spiked Horchata, one of Kendall’s all-time favorite drinks. This version also calls for Licor 43’s horchata liqueur, cold brew coffee liqueur, and flavored bitters, but it swaps out tequila for spiced whiskey and adds pumpkin spice for some delightful autumnal flair.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Horchata Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with various creamy 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.

Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, grains, malted barley, and water. We used Knob Creek 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon because it’s rich and full bodied with notes of smooth vanilla and caramel. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey.

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.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup: This is a sweetener made with pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, brown sugar, white sugar, and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s sous vide recipe.

Cardamom & Caramelized Raisin Bitters: This is a food product made with cardamom, caramelized raisins, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Crude Bitters & Sodas Limited Edition Cardamom & Caramelized Raisins Bitters.

Cinnamon Stick: This is a dried spice that has been rolled into a stick. We used cinnamon sticks from the bulk section at our local grocery store.

Pumpkin Pie Spice: This is a spice blend made with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. We used Simply Organic Pumpkin Pie Spice.

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.

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Tasting Notes

The Pumpkin Spiked Horchata has noticeable aromas of pumpkin and a heavily spiced and creamy taste made up of horchata’s signature flavors, pumpkin, and baking spice, which all give way to notes of coffee and bourbon on the finish.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: While it may not fully replace the original Mocha Spiked Horchata in Kendall’s heart, this version does fill the void that cooler weather brings. Plus, the Pumpkin Spiked Horchata made us excited for the many fall drinks to come.

Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A take on Kendall’s literal favorite cocktail ever, the Mocha Spiked Horchata, this drink manages to bring a lot of similar flavors but in a whole different take. The Licor 43 Horchata brings its signature vanilla and spice to the mix; meanwhile, the bourbon offers a softness that, when paired with the cold brew and pumpkin spice, make it perfectly appropriate for the season. Honestly, it might suffer just a bit from being too good, but it certainly does not lack complexity.”

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The Mocha Spiked Horchata we shared in 2022 has become one of my all-time favorite cocktails, so I had the idea of trying an autumnal version a couple of months ago. It ended up taking a couple of tries to get it right because the ratios we pulled from the original and tweaked weren’t quite what we expected. But the final cocktail is really quite delicious and incredibly different than its inspiration. I don’t know that it quite overcomes my obsession with the original, but I will absolutely whip this up during the fall months when I’m craving something spiced and pumpkin.”

Recipe