15 Delicious Coffee Liquor Cocktails

White Russian

While many great cocktails feature coffee liqueurs, few get as much attention as the white Russian. Yet, this mixed drink of vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream is not on its own. With a quick ingredient switch, you can enjoy an entirely new drink.

This drink family is fun and it's hard to get bored when you have such easy substitutions available. There is, of course, the black Russian, which skips the cream. You can also hold the vodka for the Smith and Kearns or switch to whiskey and mix up a sneaky Pete. Want something with a little fizz? Add cola for a Colorado bulldog. And, if there's no cream in the house, grab that bottle of Irish cream, and enjoy a mudslide.

Toasted Almond

If you're in the mood for a white Russian but want something just a little sweeter and lighter on the alcohol, the toasted almond is a good choice. It pairs coffee liqueur with amaretto while retaining that creamy deliciousness. Bring back the vodka, and you have a roasted toasted almond.

Widow Maker

If you thought that Jägermeister was reserved for get-me-drunk shots, think again. In the widow maker cocktail, the herbal liqueur is paired with equal parts vodka and coffee liqueur. Add a bit of grenadine, and a pleasant martini-style drink is ready to enjoy.

Talking Monkey

Pick up an espresso vodka on your next trip to the liquor store, and after one sip, your mind will swarm with tasty ways to use it. To kick start that adventure, give the fun talking monkey recipe a taste. It uses a chocolate vodka and banana liqueur with a hint of espresso vodka and coffee liqueur. It's creamy, too, and quite the delight.

Triple Espresso Martini

Many versions of the espresso martini use actual espresso. This recipe takes a different approach, opting for espresso vodka instead. It's paired with coconut rum and amaretto, and the vodka floats on top for a delicate crema-like touch.

Ginspresso Martini

Espresso vodka can work well in a more traditional martini formula. When you're in the mood for a drier cocktail with a caffeine kick, the ginspresso martini is an ideal choice. It accents a tall shot of espresso vodka and a short shot of gin with dry vermouth and orange bitters for a fascinating taste. To complete the drink, garnish it with coffee beans and a burnt orange peel.

Mochatini

Another flavored vodka shares the stage with coffee liqueur in this tasty martini recipe. The mochatini opts for vanilla vodka and it's an equal pour with the coffee liqueur. Bring in a bit of chocolate liqueur and rim the glass with even more chocolate for a tempting after-dinner drink.

Homemade Coffee Liqueur

Midnight Martini

Similar to the mochatini, the midnight martini skips the chocolate, turning it into a quick two-ingredient vodka cocktail. The basic recipe requires vodka and the coffee liqueur of your choice. To ramp up the caffeinated aspect, pour an espresso vodka instead. Adding the optional cinnamon syrup also gives the drink a little extra dimension.

Golden Cappuccino

Straight coffee-flavored cocktails are nice, but give the golden cappuccino a whirl for something considerably more interesting. It's a creamy cocktail that features Galliano L'Autentico, a golden liqueur known for its vanilla and anise profile. When paired with your preferred espresso vodka and cream, it becomes a luscious libation that rivals any coffee house drink.

Bushwacker

Creamy smoothies are great and even better when you sneak in a little booze. That may be an understatement for the bushwacker, though. It's like a coffee-chocolate frozen piña colada, hold the pineapple; you'll need dark rum, Kahlúa, crème de cacao, and cream of coconut. Add milk and ice, and blend it up. It's so delicious that you'll probably be back for a second round.

Here Are the Best Coffee Liqueurs for After Dinner or Mixed in Cocktails

Bahama Mama

Coffee liqueurs are also useful in tropical cocktails. It only makes sense when you consider that the coffee plant is tropical. To prove the point, mix up the unforgettable Bahama mama. A favorite on the beach scene, this drink has a pineapple juice base to which you'll add coffee and coconut liqueurs along with dark and 151-proof rums.

Coffee Old-Fashioned

The coffee old-fashioned was developed for straight bourbon whiskey, but it's also excellent with coffee-infused bourbon. A short drink, the recipe mixes whiskey with chocolate liqueur, chilled espresso, and orange bitters. It's quick and easy to make, and a nice one to sip slowly.

Carrot Cake Shot

Despite not having a bit of carrot, the carrot cake shot tastes like its namesake dessert. It's made with Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and butterscotch schnapps. Rimming the glass with cream cheese frosting and crushed walnuts seals the deal on this delicious shot.

Wake the Dead

Tequila and coffee go together very well, and this recipe is sure to "wake the dead." It doubles up on the coffee, pairing both a coffee liqueur and espresso with the crisp taste of blanco tequila. Customarily served as a shot, it also makes an excellent sipper.

Death by Chocolate

Fire up the blender because you won't want to miss this tasty ice cream cocktail. With a vodka and coffee liqueur foundation, the recipe uses not one but three chocolate ingredients to ensure it lives up to the "death by chocolate" name.