While it might be too late for you to make Kahlua and gift it next week on Christmas [1] — it takes three weeks for the coffee beans to infuse the vodka and rum mixture — I highly recommend you make this and give it to someone as a hostess gift in early January.

People are always surprised that liquors can be homemade, so it makes for an unexpected gift [2]. What most don't realize is that the best bartenders are busy mixing up everything from homemade Baileys [3] to fresh grenadine [4]. The techniques they use to make these superior mixers are easily adaptable for the home.

A few weeks ago when I decided to make this, I spoke with friend and master mixologist Scott Baird of 15 Romolo [5] in San Francisco. Although most recipes call for simply a clear spirit like vodka or light rum, Baird insists on a mixture of vodka and dark rum for a rich flavor and thick syrup-like liquid. To look at his recipe, .

Homemade Kahlua
From Scott Baird of 15 Romolo [6]

Ingredients

1 750 ml bottle vodka or white rum (I used Stoli)
1 1/4 cups dark rum (Scott recommended Pampero, but I couldn't find it)
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 pound whole coffee beans
1 tablespoon cocoa nib (optional)
1 vanilla bean
cinnamon stick, slice of orange peel (optional)

Directions

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a sealable container. Shake hard to combine.
2. Label with the date and let sit in a cool, dark place for three weeks. Shake or stir the mixture several times of week.
3. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into a clean vessel. Use like you would Kahlua or any other coffee liquor.

Makes 1 bottle of Kahlua.

Print recipe with images [6] | without images [6]