October 1 is International Coffee Day, a day to celebrate the drink that gets most of us through the morning. We’d like to make a case for celebrating it in the evening, too.
Coffee cocktails are having a moment, from espresso martinis to spiked café drinks. Most of them get their sweetness and body from a coffee liqueur, and traditional coffee liqueurs can be some of the sweetest bottles on the back bar.
Liqueur is the flavored, sweetened cousin of liquor, and it’s often where much of a cocktail’s sugar is hiding.
Above Board Coffee Liqueur is made with dark roast espresso from Dropkick Coffee here in San Diego. It’s crafted without sugar, sweetened with plant-based monk fruit and allulose, and has 0g sugar per serving. It’s also gluten-free.
The result is rich, real coffee flavor without the syrupy finish.
Here are three coffee cocktails from our 2026 recipe book, each with a different personality.
1. Ultimate Mexican Coffee
Warm, cozy and perfect for cooler evenings.
This hot coffee cocktail combines coffee, orange, tequila and a touch of chocolate spice, finished with a soft cream topping.
Ingredients
- ¾ oz Above Board Orange Liqueur
- ¾ oz Above Board Coffee Liqueur
- ¾ oz reposado tequila
- 2 dashes Fee’s Aztec Chocolate Bitters
- 3 to 4 oz freshly brewed hot coffee
Method
Warm a glass mug with hot water, then pour the water out.
Add the Above Board Orange Liqueur, Above Board Coffee Liqueur, reposado tequila and bitters. Top with very hot coffee.
Gently finish with soft whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Soft Whip
Shake a couple of ounces of heavy cream in a shaker tin without ice until it becomes thick but still pourable.
2. Mexicali Blues
Bold, smooth and beautifully simple.
Coffee, orange and agave spirits come together in a dark, bittersweet cocktail with only three ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz Above Board Orange Liqueur
- 1 ½ oz Above Board Coffee Liqueur
- 1 oz tequila or mezcal
Method
Shake all ingredients with ice.
Double strain into a chilled coupe and express an orange peel over the top.
3. Pumpkin Spice Coffee Fizz
A fall cocktail for when you want to make something a little more special.
This seasonal recipe combines cozy pumpkin spice, cold brew and bourbon with a light, foamy finish.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz Above Board Coffee Liqueur
- ¾ oz pumpkin spice-infused Above Board Original Simple Syrup
- 1 oz bourbon
- ¾ oz bold cold brew
- 1 oz oat milk
- 2 to 3 oz soda water
- 1 egg white or vegan foamer
Method
Shake everything except the soda water without ice.
Add ice and shake again.
Pour 2 oz of soda water into a chilled glass, then double strain the cocktail over it.
Allow the foam to settle and top with a little more soda water.
Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Combine 500 ml Above Board Original Simple Syrup with 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice in a sealed bag.
Sous vide at 155°F for 3 hours, then strain and bottle.
The syrup keeps for up to 2 months.
For Bars and Cafés
Coffee cocktails continue to be a popular part of cocktail menus, from espresso martinis to after-dinner drinks.
Above Board Coffee Liqueur gives bars and restaurants a way to create familiar coffee cocktails without the sugar found in many traditional coffee liqueurs.
Request a tasting:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a sugar-free alternative to Kahlúa?
Above Board Coffee Liqueur is crafted without sugar and has 0g sugar per serving, making it an option for cocktails that would traditionally call for a sweetened coffee liqueur.
What coffee is used in Above Board Coffee Liqueur?
Above Board Coffee Liqueur is made with dark roast espresso from Dropkick Coffee, roasted here in San Diego.
Find Above Board
Shop Above Board at drinkaboveboard.com, shipped through our licensed fulfillment partner, or find us at select stores, restaurants and bars.
Happy International Coffee Day.
Changing cocktail culture one smarter sip at a time.