After I accepted an offer to try Cask & Kettle hard coffee and cider cocktails, I immediately thought, it’s about time I can use my Keurig for this purpose!
That’s right, you put these k-pods ($14.99 for a pack of five) that contain liquid distilled spirits, coffee and crafted natural flavors into your machine, and after a minute or so, you get a hot, spiked beverage waiting for you.
Here’s an interesting backstory: Cask & Kettle started following a joke made at an afternoon office meeting that Co-Founders Lucinda Wright and Pete Borozan were attending. The group was asked if they would like some coffee, and Lucinda said only if it included alcohol. That got the creative juices percolating, and the two eventually created a prototype.
I really appreciated that all the cocktails were caffeine-free, as I was slightly concerned about drinking coffee–even with alcohol–at night. I did enjoy all the flavors:
- The Spiked Cider (50 proof) was nice. It tastes exactly as if you had apple cider and added alcohol to it (in this case, it’s vodka). It’s got the right amount of sweetness, and there’s enough alcohol flavor to keep you honest.
- The Hot Blonde (74 proof), made with vodka and a light-roast coffee, has a yummy caramel-vanilla flavor. Also, the aftertaste is a little minty.
- I really like that you get a strong sense of the Irish whiskey in the Irish Coffee (76 proof) but without any bite. In fact, I found this drink, which also contains vodka, to be surprisingly refreshing and a bit on the sweet side.
- Get ready for a wonderful whiff of peppermint in the Mint Patty version (75 proof). It’s like a toned-down peppermint schnapps, even though it’s made with vodka and a dark-roast coffee.
- The Mexican Coffee (60 proof) features both tequila and vodka. This cocktail was quite smooth and actually reminded me of drinking hot chocolate.
For each beverage, I tried it hot first, and then I added ice. Either way makes for a tasty drink.
In the Madison area, you can find Cask & Kettle products at stores such as Pick N Save and Total Wine and More. You also can purchase the k-pods from the Cask & Kettle website.
Tags: alcohol
