Kahlua Pumpkin Spice is a new offering from the coffee liqueur masters at Kahlua. If you’re a big coffee liqueur drinker or like the sweetness of a Kahlua with the mild roasted coffee action, perhaps Pumpkin Spice is worth your attention. But, you’ll find less coffee flavor within the Kahlua Pumpkin Spice as compared to the traditional offering. Why?
I believe the fact that Kahlua Pumpkin Spice, along with many of the brand extensions (vanilla, peppermint, cinnamon, etc.), bring a lot more sugary sweetness to them and it tends to mute the coffee intensity quite a bit. I found the spice to be more intense on the nose compared to tasting the liqueur. While the flavor is definitely spiced with cinnamon, hints of cloves, nutmeg and a nice brown sugar, the intensity of the aroma was strikingly awesome. And, since aroma plays a part in everyday tasting you’ll appreciate it all the more.
The mouth feel is thick, heavy with sweet syrup and, I believe on ice, we’re talking a major winning sipping liqueur for the fall season. While the mouthfeel is surprisingly close to the original, Pumpkin Spice just brings a little more seasonal flavor in a lighter brown package (hold Pumpkin Spice to the light and you’ll see it’s not nearly as dark as the original).
I tried Pumpkin Spice up against a Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee and I’ve got to say, the flavored coffee wins out against a non-flavored coffee with Kahlua Pumpkin Spice added to it. The coffee loses much of the pumpkin spice intensity of this liqueur and leaves a bit of a harsher alcoholic finish to the drink, which isn’t as good as the true flavored coffees but might work as a substitute in a pinch (I highly suggest leaving out the sugar as Pumpkin Spice Kahlua will do that for you). I think the heat of the coffee along side the alcohol allows it to rise into your nasal passages in a striking manner and dulls your senses for any sweeter pumpkin action.
Price wise, it’s about the same as the traditional and all the other Kahlua variants, at around USD $19.99. I think the strength in this seasonal will be in some traditional cocktails like a Black Russian for the holidays or as a seasonal sipper. Give it a try and tell us what you think.
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