I'm a fan of cocktails with a kick. Add jalapeno to my drink and I'm a happy guy. But spice, in general, is how I roll. I tend to remember dishes or beverages that have a little heat in them. It's become my thing at bars: can you make me something spicy? If the bartender is game, we're automatically best friends. A few months ago I made such a request at one of our favorite local establishments and was served up a drink with ghost pepper-infused tequila. Don't ask me what else I drank that night... I probably couldn't feel my tongue anymore... but, hey, that drink stuck with me!
When I approached this classic Kahlúa® drink, the Brave Bull (the ingredients for which can all be ordered through Drizly) and saw it had tequila in it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do to give it my unique spin. Well, it did go through some iterations. I thought about maybe muddling the booze with jalapeno, but decided that might be a bit too intense for this slow sipper. Instead, I went with a more subtle approach and rimmed the glass with a mixture of cayenne, sugar, and cinnamon. This is a cocktail with some deep flavors - the coffee/caramel of the Kahlúa® and the green pepper of the tequila - and the sugar and spice mixture helps to accentuate those notes. One thing that I enjoyed was how the lime juice used to rim the glass provides some nice zing to help cut through it all, making you want to go back in for another taste.
This is my second creation featuring Kahlúa® and, between this and the Coconut Milk White Russian, I'm getting to see how versatile this liqueur is. But this won't be the last time you're seeing it used here... there's another Kahlúa® cocktail coming your way next month (it'll be a drink to serve at all of your backyard barbecues this summer).
To try your hand at making a Kicking Bull, head over to my recipe page on Drizly to get your cocktail ingredients! (There's a code for free delivery just for you! Just use "KahluaBOS" when you checkout.)
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Kahlúa®. All opinions expressed here are my own. Also, please drink responsibly.
The Kicking Bull
Yield
1 drink
Ingredients
For the cocktail
1 part Kahlúa®
2 parts tequila blanco
For the rim
1 lime wedge
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
1. Add the sugar to a small plate. Add the cinnamon and cayenne and mix to combine.
2. Moisten the rim of a rocks glass with a lime wedge. Dip the rim into the sugar-spice mixture and rotate slowly until the rim is coated.
3. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
4. Add the Kahlúa® and tequila.
Source: Adapted from the Brave Bull recipe posted on the Kahlua® website.
Beverage and prop styling by Catrine Kelty
