Kahlua

Kahlúa is the world’s best-selling coffee liqueur, produced in Veracruz, Mexico since 1936 using 100% Arabica coffee beans and sugarcane-derived rum. The core expressions include the Original (sweet roasted coffee and vanilla, 20% ABV), Especial (darker roast, 36% ABV, closer to a coffee digestif), French Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and the Dunk’n Caramel Swirl Cream Liqueur collaboration.

Browse all liqueurs at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Kahlúa Original and Especial?

Kahlúa Original is bottled at 20% ABV with a sweeter, more dessert-forward coffee and vanilla profile — the classic White Russian and Espresso Martini base. Kahlúa Especial is bottled at 36% ABV with a darker roast coffee character and significantly less sweetness, producing a more intense, digestif-adjacent profile that works better in spirit-forward cocktails or sipped neat. Especial is the choice for those who find the Original too sweet.

What is Veracruz Arabica coffee and why does origin matter?

Veracruz is one of Mexico’s most important coffee-growing regions — highland volcanic soils, Atlantic moisture, and altitude produce Arabica beans with bright acidity, medium body, and citrus and chocolate notes. Kahlúa has sourced from Veracruz since its founding in 1936, and the regional character of this coffee — distinctly different from Colombian, Ethiopian, or Brazilian Arabica — contributes directly to Kahlúa’s recognizable flavor profile.