Caffeinated Coffee Cocktails
For those of us who drink coffee, it holds a special and almost ritualistic place in our hearts. Made from roasted coffee beans and sometimes affectionately referred to as “brown bean juice,” this warm (or iced) beverage is often part of a daily morning routine. The routine develops largely due to caffeine, which has a stimulating effect on our bodies. As a stimulant, it helps keep you awake, providing the requisite energy to get you through your work day. As day turns to night, however, caffeine is less desirable for the same reason.
If you’ve ever wanted just a little bit of caffeine in the evening, consider a coffee cocktail. Most coffee cocktails include just a couple ounces or less, so the caffeine intake is much smaller than a full cup of coffee. An important note about the combination of coffee and alcohol is that because coffee is a stimulant, it can somewhat counteract the depressant effects of alcohol.
Just as coffee comes in various forms (cappuccino, latte, espresso, etc.), coffee cocktails can come in various forms, as well. Some cocktails are made with hot coffee, some with cold brew coffee, others with espresso, coffee liqueur or coffee powder. Here, we share a collection of our top caffeinated coffee cocktail recipes made with our rum and whiskey spirits:
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of First Rum Rum or Vanilla Rum
-1 oz. of coffee liqueur
-1.5 oz. of coconut cream
-grated nutmeg
-espresso beans
Instructions:
In a shaker, add all ingredients without ice. Shake for about 8-15 seconds. Pour contents into a Collins glass over crushed ice and swizzle. Garnish with grated nutmeg and espresso beans.
Ingredients - Yields 4 Cocktails:
-4 oz. of Rum 44
-4 chai tea bags
-1 cup of filtered water
-1 tablespoon of maple syrup
-2 oz. of cold brew coffee
-1 cup of milk
-Star Anise
Instructions:
Heat the water to almost boiling and steep the tea for 4 minutes. Discard the tea bags. Add in the maple syrup. Stir to combine and set to the side to cool. In a shaker, pour espresso, rum, milk, and cooled chai over ice. Shake for about 8-10 seconds. Double strain into 4 martini glasses, and garnish with star anise.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of PX RUM
-1/2 oz. of Cappelletti
-3/4 oz. of Carpano Antica
-1/4 oz. of cold brew coffee
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir briefly, then strain into a large rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-1 oz. of demerara syrup
-hot coffee
-2 oz. of whipping cream
-1/2 oz. of Benedictine (or cinnamon syrup)
-cinnamon
Instructions:
In an Irish coffee mug, add the Revolution Rye, demerara syrup and hot coffee. Stir to combine ingredients. In a shaker, combine the whipping cream and Benedictine (or cinnamon syrup), and shake hard for a full minute until whipped cream is formed. Top the coffee with the whipped cream, then grate fresh cinnamon on top.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.25 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1/4 oz. of Vermont maple syrup
-1/2 oz. of Maple Creme Liqueur
-2 oz. of cold brew coffee
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with cinnamon or cocoa.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-2 tablespoons of instant coffee
-1 tablespoon of espresso powder
-2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
-2 tablespoons of hot water
-3 oz. of milk
Instructions:
Combine instant coffee, espresso powder, sugar and hot water in a bowl. Whisk until fluffy. It takes many minutes to get a thick, fluffy consistency, which is important for layering. Combine Vanilla Rum and milk in a shaker over ice, shake lightly. Strain the shaker into a glass, then add the whipped coffee on top.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye
-3/4 oz. of Averna
-1/2 oz. of Campari
-1/2 oz. of cold brew coffee
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass over ice. Stir for about 8-12 seconds. Strain into a double rocks glass over a large cube, then add an orange peel for garnish.
As you can see from the recipes above, both rum and whiskey mix incredibly well with coffee. Our Revolution Rye (with hints of coffee and a cocoa finish), adds a distinctive but complementary flavor to coffee. Our Vanilla Rum (infused with Tahitian vanilla beans), adds great aromatics and flavor, which made our Espresso Martini one of our most popular cocktails. You can’t go wrong with any of our spirits, but these two are a great place to start when it comes to making caffeinated coffee cocktails at home.
Do you have a favorite coffee cocktail recipe? Share yours by tagging us on social @madriverdistillers. Cheers!
Written and published by Brianne Lucas on January 19, 2026.
