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Here are all the best Licor 43 cocktails to make with this tasty Spanish vanilla liqueur! Grab a bottle to mix up these fantastic drinks.
Got a bottle of Licor 43? This bright yellow Spanish liqueur is made with a secret blend of 43 herbs and spices. Take one sip, and nod in appreciation for the notes of vanilla, cinnamon and orange peel. Licor 43 best known for its use in the carajillo, a Mexican spiked coffee drink, but there are so many more ways to use it! How do you serve Licor 43?
- Drink it straight as a shot, or on ice.
- Mix it into coffee.
- Mix with cola, ginger ale, or ginger beer.
- Add it into Licor 43 cocktails. (See below!)
- Use it when “vanilla liqueur” is specified in a drink recipe.
Here at A Couple Cooks, we’re cocktails experts with over 300 cocktail recipes under our belt. We’ve researched all the best drink recipes and Licor 43 cocktails that show the versatility of this Spanish liqueur.
And now…the best Licor 43 cocktails!
Our favorite Licor 43 cocktail? The Key Lime Martini! It's a vodka martini with the flavors of key lime pie. Does it sound like a drink with no substance? On the contrary: Licor 43 makes it taste sophisticated and nuanced, with a warm-spiced vanilla body to each sip. This one's absolutely stunning and great for impressing friends.
Ingredients: Licor 43, bottled key lime juice, vodka, heavy cream
Licor 43 and coffee are the perfect pairing! Carajillo is the Spanish term for spiked coffee, and the Licor 43 cocktail version of it is extremely popular in Mexico. One sip and you’ll taste sweet vanilla, chocolate and citrus against the bitter, rich notes of the coffee. It’s truly a match made in heaven!
Ingredients: Licor 43, espresso, ice
It looks like beer, but we’ve got a secret. This Mini Beer Shot has nothing to do with a cold brew at all. Nope, this is a shot of a different nature: it pairs tasty vanilla Licor 43 liqueur and cream. The flavor? Sweet, nuanced, and delicious: essentially the exact opposite of beer. It’s a fun novelty: especially for people being introduced to this tasty liqueur for the first time.
Here's a 1970’s drink that works just as well with Licor 43: make way for the Harvey Wallbanger! This easy highball cocktail is the Screwdriver‘s more sophisticated cousin made with Galliano, an herbal Italian liqueur invented in the 1890’s. Substitute Licor 43 for the Galliano, and you've got a whole new drink! (You'll see this swap in a few more cocktail ideas.)
Ingredients: Vodka, orange juice, Licor 43
Here’s a Cuban cocktail that’s made all over the world…because it’s just that simple. Meet the Cuba Libre! This drink recipe has just 3 ingredients: lime, cola and rum. (Yep, it's basically a Rum and Coke.) Why not try it with a shot of Licor 43 to add intrigue? The vanilla notes perfectly compliment the cola.
Ingredients: Rum, cola, lime, Licor 43 (swap in 1 ounce for half the rum)
Here’s a tasty sweet and sour cocktail that’s uniquely delicious: the Yellow Bird! This bright yellow drink is a sour cocktail with a little extra bling: a nuanced finish with notes of vanilla and licorice. Usually it's made with Galliano, but why not try it with Licor 43? It makes an even tastier drink that's more vanilla-forward.
Ingredients: White rum, triple sec, lime juice, Licor 43
Mix up a Dark and Stormy as a Licor 43 cocktail, and it's even tastier! The spicy flavor of ginger beer pairs well with the vanilla notes in Licor 43. In this classic cocktail, substitute half the dark rum for Licor 43 and prepare to be amazed.
Ingredients: Dark rum, ginger beer, lime, Licor 43
Here’s a creamy drink you need in your life: the Orange Creamsicle! This classy cocktail is a spin on the Golden Dream, popular in the 1960’s and 70’s. One sip and you’ll be instantly intrigued: in fact, it really tastes like a boozy Creamsicle! It’s creamy with a strong orange flavor: and the finish isn’t too sweet, with subtle notes of herbs and vanilla. Simply swap in Licor 43 for the Galliano.
Ingredients: Licor 43, orange juice, Cointreau (or triple sec), heavy cream
Looking for a tasty, refreshing Licor 43 cocktail that takes 1 minute to mix together? Try Ginger 43! The sweet liqueur melds perfectly with spicy ginger ale. Add a squeeze of lime and it’s the perfect refreshing highball. Replace the rum in the linked recipe with 1 ½ ounces Licor 43 and ½ ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice.
The Espresso Martini is an ideal pick-me-up for a lazy afternoon or an after dinner drink…it even doubles as dessert! Bittersweet coffee pairs perfectly with the rich sweetness of Licor 43. Add vodka and the trio makes a full-flavored sophisticated drink that tastes like much more than the sum of its parts. (Substitute Licor 43 for the Kahlua in the linked recipe.)
More cocktail recipes
There are so many drinks to try outside of these Licor 43 cocktails! Here are 300+ cocktail recipes for every occasion:
- Classics: Try Classic Cocktails or Great Cocktail Recipes.
- Easy: Go for Easy Mixed Drinks, Cheap Drinks, 2 Ingredient Tequila Drinks or 2 Ingredient Vodka Drinks
- Fancy: Opt for the best in Craft Cocktails.
- The Big 5: Try all our cocktails with Gin, Vodka, Whiskey or Bourbon, Tequila or Rum.
- Specialty: Make drinks with Mezcal, Fernet Branca, Aperol, Hennessy, Midori, and Maraschino Liqueur.
- Fruity Drinks: Try drinks with Cranberry, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit or Orange Juice
Top 10 Licor 43 Cocktails
The Key Lime Martini is a stunning cocktail that tastes just like key lime pie…but even better! Licor 43 is the secret ingredient that makes it stellar.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Licor 43*
- ½ ounce vodka
- ½ ounce key lime juice (bottled)**
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- Graham crackers, crushed for the rim
- For the garnish: Lime wheel
Instructions
- Wet the rim of the cocktail glass. Place finely crushed graham crackers on a plate, and tilt the outside rim of the glass into the mixture so that it coats the outer rim.
- Place the Licor 43, vodka, key lime juice, and heavy cream in a cocktail shaker with 2 handfuls ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold.
- Strain the drink into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and serve.
Notes
*For converting to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
**Licor 43 is a Spanish vanilla liqueur you can find at most liquor stores and even grocery stores. Key lime juice is sold bottled and available in most grocery stores.
Enjoyed your recipes and have experienced another great one. The Spanish Crown.
Patron Reposada; Licor 43; Cointreau; sweet and sour. Served in martini glass with orange garnish.
Try this: Frozen Creamsicle Shooters
1 pkg Orange Jello mixed with 1/3c boiling water until gelatin is melted
Mix in:
1c Liquor 43
1c vodka
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding
1 8 oz. container of Cool Whip
Pour into 2 oz. plastic cups with covers and freeze!
Great at parties!
Also, can be done as a truffle. Line truffle bowl with lady finger cookies (bottom and sides) and pour creamsicle mixture in and freeze before serving.
(Note: I have used sugar free and fat free ingredients with great results)
Thanks for sharing!
The Carajillo is one of our favorites, but Licor 43 with Lime Topo Chico or Coconut La Croix is fantastic!
I enjoy your site very much. If I’m not mistaken the “carajillo” is not Mexican. One theory is that when Cuba was under Spanish rule, the Spanish Soldiers would mix coffee with rum for “corajillo” this is Courage in Spanish. The other two theories are playing with words from the Catalán language and turned into Spanish. Hope you find this interesting. Have a great day.