Liqueurs

Kahlua

Liqueur
18% ABV
29 drinks

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

✓You want sweetness, flavour depth and lower ABV in your cocktail.
✓Features in 29 WhatDrink drinks.

Skip if…

✗You want a dry, neutral or high-ABV spirit base.

At a Glance

96 kcalCalories

18%ABV

9gSugar

12gCarbs

LiqueurType

29Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What is Kahlua?

Kahlua is mapped to the Kahlua reference category. This page supports recipe discovery, ingredient context, flavor navigation and related drink-guide grouping across WhatDrink.

What does Kahlua taste like?

coffee, sweet, vanilla, roasted, balanced structure, aromatic finish, cocktail ingredient context

Kahlua profile

Mixability: HighIntensity: MediumSweetBeginner-friendly: High

Best used for: tropical drinks, citrus cocktails, dessert drinks, layered shots

Appears in 29 recipes

Ways to use kahlua

Cocktails (18)Shots (8)Coffee cocktails (3)

Kahlua is mapped to the Kahlua reference category. This page supports recipe discovery, ingredient context, flavor navigation and related drink-guide grouping across WhatDrink.

Flavour profile

CoffeeRoastedSweetVanilla

Recipes using this

Observed quantities

Observed in single-serve recipes: middle half 10.27–29.57 ml; median 22.18 ml.

In the measured recipes in this dataset — from 18 observed uses.

Scoped nutrition

Calories (per 100 ml): 320
Sugar (per 100 ml): 30 g
Carbs (per 100 ml): 40 g

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

Diet compatibility

Gluten-FreeCompatible
KetoNot compatible
Low-CarbNot compatible
Low-SugarNot compatible
Veganvaries
VegetarianCompatible

Based on the listed ingredient only — a public recipe facet, not medical, allergy or coeliac advice. Specific brands and preparation can change compatibility.

Reviewed substitutes

Coffee LiqueurCoffee liqueur profile stays central.

Reviewed ingredient substitution guidance. Results can vary by brand, quantity and preparation. These substitutions have not been tested in every individual recipe.

Trust & methodology

Canonical ingredient/component authority assembled from reviewed identity, recipe, flavour, nutrition, diet and substitution evidence. Observed quantities and co-use patterns are descriptive, not prescriptions or universal recommendations.

Evidence last updated: 2026-07-16T03:30:39.066659+00:00

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.

Kahlua — common questions

How many cocktails are made with Kahlua?: There are 29 cocktail recipes featuring Kahlua in the WhatDrink database.
What are the most popular cocktails made with Kahlua?: Top-ranked cocktails made with Kahlua include 747, Afternoon, Almeria. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
What is the ABV of Kahlua?: Kahlua has an ABV of approximately 18%. The exact strength varies by brand and expression.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Kahlua with similar ingredients at a glance.
How do I use the Kahlua sensory profile to find drinks I like?: If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Kahlua, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.