The Carajillo Old Fashioned: Coffee Meets Whiskey in One Brilliant Cocktail

The Carajillo Old Fashioned combines the coffee-and-liqueur core of a Spanish Carajillo with the spirit-forward backbone of a classic Old Fashioned. San Diego bartender Sean O'Connor Combee created it for Jay and Tony's Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse. The recipe comes from the Madrusan Complete Cocktail Companion.

The Recipe

The build is four ingredients:

• 1/4 oz Licor 43
• 1/4 oz coffee liqueur
• 1 oz cognac
• 1 oz rye whiskey

Add everything to a stirring glass with ice. Stir until well-chilled. Strain over a large tempered ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with coffee beans on the ice.

Technique Notes

You are more likely to under-stir this cocktail than over-stir it. Because it goes onto a tempered piece of ice and sits for a while, you want it properly chilled from the start. If you leave it a bit warmer, you will get more life out of the drink as it opens up on the ice, but you still need adequate chill.

Pour directly on top of the tempered ice. It will not crack if the ice is properly tempered.

Tasting Notes

The rye whiskey and cognac form the spine. Rye brings its characteristic spice, while cognac lightens and rounds out the base. Licor 43 and coffee liqueur are the stars of the show, providing warmth and richness without turning the drink into a dessert. Coffee beans on the ice add aromatics that carry through every sip.

The result is a straightforward cocktail that works as a nightcap. Nothing complicated, just four ingredients stirred and strained, connecting the Carajillo tradition with the Old Fashioned format.

Key Takeaways

• The Carajillo Old Fashioned is a four-ingredient stirred cocktail that merges coffee flavors with a classic Old Fashioned structure
• Under-stirring is the bigger risk since the drink sits on ice and needs proper chill up front
• Coffee beans on the ice serve as both garnish and aromatic

Resources

• Madrusan Complete Cocktail Companion -- The book this recipe was sourced from