Home Drink Menu Open main menu

Cali Cafe Drink recipe

Rocks glass

Get ready to impress your guests with this mouth-watering Cali Cafe drink recipe! Made with a perfect blend of white rum, maraschino liqueur, cherry brandy, simple syrup, and coffee, this drink is sure to awaken your senses. Garnish with an orange peel and cherry for an added touch of sophistication. Stir with a metal straw or bar spoon and serve in a rocks glass for the ultimate experience. Perfect for beginning bartenders looking to impress their guests!


Cali Cafe Ingredients

Cali Cafe Equipment

  • metal straw or teaspoon to stir properly, if you want to be a pro: use bar spoon

Cali Cafe Recipe

  1. stir all the ingredients together with ice
  2. serve in Rocks glass full with ice
  3. use Orange, Maraschino Cherry for garnish

Recommend: serve in Rocks glass

It's also called a "lowball", "whiskey" or "old-fashioned" glass. The bottom of old-fashioned glass is thick. Rocks glasses carry between 6 and 8 ounces.

The Cali Cafe: A Delicious and Versatile Cocktail

If you're looking for a cocktail that is both delicious and versatile, look no further than the Cali Cafe. With a history that dates back to the early 1900s, this classic cocktail has stood the test of time, and continues to be a favorite of bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts around the world.

Popularity of the Cali Cafe

History and Origins

The Cali Cafe was first created in the early 1900s in California. Its origins are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have been inspired by the classic cocktail, the Manhattan. The Cali Cafe is known for its unique blend of rum, maraschino liqueur, cherry brandy, and coffee, which give it a sweet and slightly bitter taste.

Famous For

The Cali Cafe is famous for its delicious taste and versatility. It's a great cocktail to enjoy after dinner, or to sip on during a night out with friends. The Cali Cafe is also known for its stunning appearance, with a deep red color and a beautiful orange peel garnish.

Geographic Popularity

The Cali Cafe is popular all around the world, but it's especially loved in California and other parts of the United States. It's a go-to cocktail for many bartenders, and is often featured on cocktail menus at bars and restaurants.

Ingredient Roles

The key ingredients in the Cali Cafe are the white rum, maraschino liqueur, cherry brandy, and coffee. Each of these ingredients plays an important role in the cocktail, and helps to create its unique flavor profile.

White Rum

The white rum used in the Cali Cafe is what gives the cocktail its base. It's a light and refreshing spirit, with a slightly sweet taste that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients in the cocktail.

Maraschino Liqueur

Maraschino liqueur is a sweet and slightly bitter liqueur that is made from the pits and stems of marasca cherries. It's a key ingredient in the Cali Cafe, and adds a unique flavor that complements the other ingredients in the cocktail.

Cherry Brandy

Cherry brandy is a sweet and fruity liqueur that is made from cherries. It's a popular ingredient in many cocktails, and adds a delicious cherry flavor to the Cali Cafe.

Coffee

The coffee in the Cali Cafe adds a deep and slightly bitter taste to the cocktail. It's a great way to balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients, and adds a unique flavor that sets the Cali Cafe apart from other cocktails.

How to Garnish

Garnishing the Cali Cafe is an important step in the cocktail-making process. The orange peel and maraschino cherry garnish is what gives the cocktail its stunning appearance, and adds an extra layer of flavor to the drink.

To garnish the Cali Cafe, start by peeling a small strip of orange peel. Twist the peel over the cocktail to release the oils, and then drop it into the glass. Add a maraschino cherry to the glass, and your Cali Cafe is ready to enjoy!

If you want to take your garnishing skills to the next level, try using a metal straw or a bar spoon to stir the cocktail. This will help to mix the ingredients together properly, and will give you a more professional-looking cocktail.

Variations

The Cali Cafe is a versatile cocktail that can be modified to suit a variety of tastes and dietary needs. Here are a few popular variations of the Cali Cafe:

Virgin/Mocktail Version

To make a virgin or mocktail version of the Cali Cafe, simply omit the white rum and cherry brandy, and replace them with an equal amount of orange juice. This will give you a delicious and refreshing non-alcoholic version of the cocktail.

Gluten-Free Version

The Cali Cafe is already gluten-free, as none of the ingredients contain gluten. However, if you're looking for a gluten-free alternative to the coffee, try using a gluten-free coffee brand like Dunkin' Donuts or Folgers.

Vegan Version

To make a vegan version of the Cali Cafe, simply replace the maraschino liqueur with a vegan-friendly alternative like Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur. This will give you a delicious and vegan-friendly version of the cocktail.

Keto Version

To make a keto-friendly version of the Cali Cafe, replace the simple syrup with a keto-friendly sweetener like stevia or monk fruit sweetener. This will give you a delicious and low-carb version of the cocktail.

Low-Calorie Version

To make a low-calorie version of the Cali Cafe, simply replace the simple syrup with a low-calorie sweetener like Splenda or Truvia. This will give you a delicious and low-calorie version of the cocktail.

Common Mistakes When Making

When making the Cali Cafe, there are a few common mistakes that people often make. Here are a few tips to help you avoid these mistakes and make the perfect Cali Cafe every time:

Using the Wrong Ingredients

Make sure that you're using the right ingredients when making the Cali Cafe. Some people try to substitute different types of rum or liqueurs, which can significantly alter the taste of the cocktail.

Not Garnishing Properly

Garnishing the Cali Cafe is an important step in the cocktail-making process. Make sure that you're using fresh orange peel and a high-quality maraschino cherry to create a stunning and delicious garnish.

Not Stirring Properly

Stirring the Cali Cafe is an important step in the cocktail-making process. Make sure that you're using a metal straw or a bar spoon to stir the cocktail properly, as this will help to mix the ingredients together and create a more balanced flavor.

In conclusion, the Cali Cafe is a delicious and versatile cocktail that is perfect for any occasion. With its unique blend of rum, maraschino liqueur, cherry brandy, and coffee, the Cali Cafe is a favorite of bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts around the world. Whether you're looking for a classic cocktail to enjoy after dinner, or a refreshing mocktail to sip on during a night out, the Cali Cafe is sure to satisfy. So go ahead and give it a try – you won't be disappointed!

If you are going to order Cali Cafe in a bar, don’t forget to mention all the ingredients to the bartender. Cali Cafe can be served with different ingredients in different places.

You might be interested: