The Bottom Line
Is there any place that Starbucks won't stop? Obviously not when it's concerning distilled spirits. In 2005 Starbucks released two liqueurs that have since made quite a stir: Starbucks Coffee Liqueur and Starbucks Cream Liqueur. Should such a large coffee company branch out into the alcohol market? Why not, adult beverages are their specialty. Did they create a product that can rival old favorites like Kahlua and Bailey's? I didn't see the challenge. While the Starbucks liqueurs are good, they are both too "coffee strong" to be versatile like their tested counterparts.
Pros
- The real Starbucks coffee flavor: like it or not
- Great for popular coffee and cream liqueur drinks like Mudslides and White Russians
- Both are thick and make great looking layered cocktails and shooters
Cons
- Not as tasty or versatile as Kahlua and Bailey's in their respective genres
Description
- Retail for around $23 per 750 ml bottle
- Cream Liqueur: 15% alc/vol (30 proof), 9mg caffeine per ounce
- Coffee Liqueur: 20% alc/vol (40 proof), 34mg caffeine per ounce
- Not available in Starbucks Coffee shops, find these liqueurs in liquor stores.
Guide Review - Starbucks Liqueurs - Coffee and Cream
Starbucks liqueurs are very rich and thick, too much so to be served on their own or even on the rocks. These liqueurs need to be mixed and if you're looking for a strong coffee-flavored drink these would be excellent choices, but if you're mixing a Bahama Mama or Brave Bull (or anything else with tequila) they just do not work. While only one is called a coffee liqueur, there is a recognizable coffee flavoring to the Cream Liqueur as well, further establishing these liqueurs as "coffee-flavorings" for specific types of drinks. So if you enjoy White Russians, Mudslides, Espresso Martinis and similar drinks then you'll want to try these liqueurs out.
More cocktails where Starbucks Liqueurs shine:
- Aggravation
- Aspenlicious
- British Invasion
- Frostini - Recipe from Starbucks
- Midnight Martini
- Mochatini - Recipe from Starbucks
- Toasted Almond
- Vanilla Latte - Recipe from Starbucks
- Any warm coffee cocktail that calls for coffee liqueur or cream liqueur.
- Cream and/or coffee liqueur shooters (especially layered shots).
