Modern UK consumers have become ever more discerning over their choice of coffee, creating a hospitality and retail market with multiple layers of premiumisation based on provenance and quality.
So it should come as no surprise that former mainstay of 1970s dinner parties, the coffee liqueur, should now be undergoing a renaissance powered by the same premium principles.
Leading the pack is family-owned Italian liqueur maker Luxardo, which has bet that consumers are ready to embrace greater sophistication in their coffee flavours, by positioning its new Espresso Liqueur as the diametric opposite of ‘instant’.
Launching here via Amber Beverage UK, Luxardo Espresso is produced in Italy from a 30-day heated infusion of selected fine coffee from Brazil, Colombia and Kenya, predominantly Arabica, with added neutral spirit.
At 27% ABV, Luxardo Espresso is an all-natural product with no added colouring, and according to Amber Beverage ‘stands out from other lower strength mass brands’, pitching it as the new choice for bars serving a quality coffee liqueur neat on ice, or in classic coffee cocktails such as an Espresso Martini or Black Russian.
Marketing manager Sarah Gandy said: “Luxardo Espresso is an exciting diversion away from the successful portfolio of Luxardo cherry product launched in recent years.
“Luxardo set a whole new standard for natural cherry flavours, and now Luxardo Espresso will elevate the experience of enjoying a coffee liqueur. The flavour and nuances of quality coffee are universally understood, and fans of coffee will appreciate this sophisticated new liqueur.”
Diffords Guide has already awarded the product a 5 star rating, declaring it ‘proudly Italian’ and ‘assertive and dry’ in comparison to other coffee liqueurs.
Much closer to home, the recent relaunch of Tayport Distillery’s award-winning spirits – in an all-new unified packaging design – saw the Fife company take the opportunity to add a coffee liqueur to its premium range.
Having achieved numerous plaudits over the last four years for its vodka, gin and liqueurs, Tayport has employed historic Dundee coffee importer James Aimer to roast and blend selected arabica and robusta coffee beans from Ethiopia, Brazil and Vietnam to produce a fully developed yet balanced flavour. The result is a ‘more natural and authentic’ coffee liqueur with a ‘bold and punchy’ flavour profile.
Head distiller Alasdair McDougall said: “Working alongside Aimers has been an enlightening and exhilarating experience for us as a distillery. While we possess extensive expertise in extracting flavours from fruits, coffee was a new and exciting frontier. Our collaboration with Aimers, and the invaluable knowledge they imparted, proved instrumental in the creation of our exquisite Coffee Liqueur, elevating it to the realm of premium spirits in line with our brand identity.”
