Carajillo Cocktail (Just 2 Ingredients!)

I have a love-hate relationship with coffee. I love the way it tastes, but I don’t always love the way it makes me feel — especially in cocktails (I’m looking at you, espresso martini!). However, I was at a friend’s apartment and she said she had a signature coffee cocktail, the carajillo, that “was way less intense.” I was instantly intrigued.

The carajillo is a delightfully simple cocktail, a 50/50 split of espresso (you can use cold brew) and Licor 43, a vanilla-forward Spanish liqueur. The origin of the cocktail is a bit murky, with several countries claiming to be the originator. As for Licor 43, it supposedly gets its name because it’s a mixture of 43 ingredients including fruits and herbs. It has a distinct vanilla flavor, with notes of citrus and chocolate, and about half the ABV of vodka, making for a much more low-key cocktail.

I love how ridiculously easy this drink is — just two ingredients in equal amounts shaken together! You can even make it with decaf espresso for all of the flavor, and none of the caffeine.

• Less intense than an espresso martini, in a good way. Carajillos use Licor 43, a Spanish vanilla liqueur with about half the ABV of vodka.
• It couldn’t be easier! The equal-parts ratio makes it incredibly easy to make and scale up for a group.

• Coffee. You can use cooled espresso (homemade, or from your local coffee shop), or grab a bottle of your favorite cold brew.
• Licor 43. This Spanish liqueur, also known as Cuarenta Y Tres (43 in Spanish), is over 1,800 years old. It has a vanilla flavor that pairs so well with coffee.

1. Chill the glass. Place a rocks or old-fashioned glass in the freezer to keep your cocktail extra chilly.
2. Shake the ingredients. Combine equal parts cooled espresso or cold brew and Licor 43 in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, seal, and shake until very frosty. 
3. Strain & enjoy. Fill the glass with ice, then pour the cocktail through a fine-mesh strainer and garnish with a few coffee beans on top.

• Use chilled decaf coffee instead of espresso or cold brew.
• Add an ounce of vodka to give the cocktail a little more bite.
• Freeze coffee ice cubes to serve the cocktail over.
• Garnish with a twist of orange peel.

If you’re making these for a crowd, you can batch them a day ahead of time and chill in the refrigerator until serving time. Because the ratio is so simple, it’s easy to scale up as needed. 

Since you’ve already got the bottle, here are some cocktails that include the liqueur, and a few others that would be tasty with a little splash.

• The Midwinter Warmer
• Vanilla-Pear Cava Sparkler
• Mexican Margarita
• Moscow Mule
• Classic Mojito
• White Russian
• Irish Coffee
• Hot Buttered Rum