Kahlúa , the world’s most popular coffee liqueur, has been made in Mexico since 1936. See Mexico. The brand’s name is derived from kahwa, the Arabic word for coffee. Originally made by Pedro Domecq, it is now owned by Pernod Ricard. Kahlúa is produced in Mexico City from coffee and a distillate of sugar cane, both grown in the state of Veracruz, as well as rum, vanilla, and caramel. Traditionally bottled at 26.5 percent ABV, its alcohol content was reduced to 20 percent in 2003.
Kahlúa began to make huge strides in sales in the 1960s after its US distribution rights were acquired by Los Angeles entrepreneur Jules Berman, who used antiquities from his pre-Columbian art collection to aggressively promote the brand in magazine ads. It received another shot in the arm in the late 1990s with the release of the cult film classic The Big Lebowski, in which the protagonist consumes a steady diet of White Russian cocktails, made with Kahlúa, vodka, and cream. (The creamless Black Russian is another mainstay of Kahlúa cocktails.) See film, spirits and cocktails in; and White Russian.
In recent years, Kahlúa has added a number of additional products to its portfolio, including Especial, bottled at 35 percent ABV, and several iterations that include additional flavorings, such as Salted Caramel and French Vanilla.
See also coffee liqueurs; habanero; and Pernod-Ricard.
Kahlúa website. https://www.Kahlua.com (accessed February 17, 2021).
By: David Mahoney