National Kahlúa Day is observed each year on February 27. Why? Perhaps the better question is why not… is there a bad time to enjoy the world’s best-selling coffee liqueur?
Kahlúa was first created in 1936 by Pedro Domecq. He named his combination of rum, vanilla, coffee, and corn syrup after the mesoamerican tribe that inhabited Mexico Valley before the Spaniards arrived, with kah-lúa translating to “heart of the Veracruz people.”
Kahlúa (a brand owned today by Pernod Ricard) rose to prominence in 1955, when it was used as a key ingredient in the classic White Russian cocktail. It enjoyed a resurgence in the late 1990s, when the cult film The Big Lebowski came on the scene. In the movie, Jeff “The Dude Lebowski—the protagonist of the quirky hit—drinks nearly a dozen White Russians, his favorite cocktail, over the course of the film.
Over the years, Kahlúa has formed the base of other popular cocktails, including the Espresso Martini and Mudslide. And Pernod’s expansion of the Kahlúa line—including the 70 proof Midnight variety, the espresso-infused Especial, and a line of flavored liqueurs like French Vanilla and Pumpkin Spice—make it a versatile liqueur that can be enjoyed alone or in a variety of cocktails and desserts.
Raise a glass… or cupcake… to National Kahlúa Day this February 27!
National Kahlúa Day is typically celebrated in USA.