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Bar staff mixing up a Kiki’s Concerto at Off the Record.
Photo: Off the Record

13 Boozy Coffee Drinks to Savor Right Now

Juiced up java creations are hot (even when cold)

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Bar staff mixing up a Kiki’s Concerto at Off the Record.
| Photo: Off the Record

Coffee and alcohol are two of mankind’s great vices — or necessities, depending on who’s asking. Each have their own life-giving properties, but put them together and the result is cocktail magic. A spiked coffee drink includes the best of both worlds: a jolt of energy and a dose of relaxation. Perhaps that’s why bars around D.C. are doubling down on this double whammy.

These creations, served hot or cold, vary from classic iterations with coffee, cream, and whiskey to more creative takes like an iced porter latte, a coffee float, and a boozy nitro cold brew. There are also plenty of cultural variations, including NOLA-style at Bayou Bakery, Tuscan at Carmine’s, Mexican at El Techo, Spanish at Taberna del Alabardero, and Hawaiian at the Watergate hotel.

The featured locations are not ranked and are listed from north to south.

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Silver (Multiple locations)

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Silver is offering several spiked coffees for the winter, including an espresso martini with George Dickel Rye Whiskey, crème de cacao, maraschino, and chilled espresso ($11), and the Dusk Till Dawn featuring Jim Beam Whiskey, orange liqueur, almond syrup, and Compass Coffee ($9).

The bar at Silver in Cathedral Heights.
Photo by Tierney Plumb / Eater DC

Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee (Multiple locations)

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The Sugar Shack location in Shaw has a special evening menu called Donuts After Dark featuring boozy coffee cocktails. Starting at 5 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, stop in for drinks like Holiday Fuel (ancho chile Aguardiente, nitro coffee, and milk) and Rye’d or Die (aged rye gin, maraschino, Ethiopian coffee, and milk) ($10).

Coffee drinks at the Sugar Shack in Shaw.
Photo: Sugar Shack

El Techo

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The rooftop at El Techo is now winter-ready, so snow bunnies can enjoy a spiked hot coffee featuring mint mezcal, coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sweet whipped cream ($11).

Rito Loco’s new rooftop bar.
Photo: Rito Loco

For a decadent treat that’s more dessert than cocktail, try the Affloatgato at Urbana — a hybrid between an affogato and a root beer float. It’s a mix of mezcal, amaro averna, vanilla syrup, and cold brew, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ($12).

A semi-private dining room at Urbana.
Photo: Urbana

Columbia Room

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The Caffé Corretto Columbia is part of the current tasting menu at Columbia Room ($85-$115). It’s a mix of brandy de Jerez, coffee, golden beet grenadine, licorice root, verbena, and spicebush.

The Caffe Corretto Columbia at the Columbia Room.
Photo: Columbia Room

Bourbon Steak

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The bar at Bourbon Steak has recently been revamped, and its new menu includes the Haberdashery featuring Casamigos tequila, apricot, coffee Bénédictine, and Jamaican bitters ($21).

The lounge at Bourbon Steak.
Photo: Bourbon Steak

Taberna del Alabardero

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The Carajillo is a traditional Spanish drink, rumored to have originated during the Spanish occupation of Cuba. Taberna del Alabardero serves a classic take, with espresso and Licor 43 over ice ($12.50).

The main dining room at Taberna del Alabardero.
Photo: Taberna del Alabardero

Off the Record

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Kiki’s Concerto at Off the Record is made with Absolut Elyx Vodka, Don Ciccio & Figli Concerto Liqueur, and espresso ($19).

Kiki’s Concerto at Off the Record.
Photo: Off the Record

Fare Well

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For a vegan take on boozy coffee, head to Fare Well. The Washington Brickyard has Port City’s porter, bourbon, iced coffee, and sweet soy creamer ($12).

A cocktail at Fare Well.
Photo: Fare Well

Dirty Habit

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Dirty Habit’s Wide Eyed has a hint of salt in addition to plenty of coffee ($14). It includes Hamilton Jamaican black rum, macadamia orgeat, salted falernum, cream, and cold brew from local producer Vigilante Coffee.

The patio bar at Dirty Habit.
Photo: Dirty Habit

Carmine's

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Naturally, Carmine’s serves an Italian-themed coffee drink. The Tuscan Coffee has Tuscan vanilla liqueur, Italian coffee, melted chocolate, and whipped cream ($9.50).

Tuscan coffee at Carmine.
Photo: Carmine’s

Bayou Bakery

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This New Orleans-inspired eatery has a version of Irish coffee inspired by the Big Easy. The Irish Channel Au Lait includes coffee, Irish cream liqueur, whipped cream, and cinnamon ($8). 

Bayou Bakery in Arlington, Va.
Photo: Bayou Bakery

Coffee is for Closers appears during weekend brunch ($12) at this Capitol Hill bar. The drink is made with whiskey, demerara syrup, orange bitters, nitro cold brew, cream, and nutmeg.

The Coffee is for Closers at Barrel.
Photo: Barrel

Silver (Multiple locations)

Silver is offering several spiked coffees for the winter, including an espresso martini with George Dickel Rye Whiskey, crème de cacao, maraschino, and chilled espresso ($11), and the Dusk Till Dawn featuring Jim Beam Whiskey, orange liqueur, almond syrup, and Compass Coffee ($9).

The bar at Silver in Cathedral Heights.
Photo by Tierney Plumb / Eater DC

Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee (Multiple locations)

The Sugar Shack location in Shaw has a special evening menu called Donuts After Dark featuring boozy coffee cocktails. Starting at 5 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, stop in for drinks like Holiday Fuel (ancho chile Aguardiente, nitro coffee, and milk) and Rye’d or Die (aged rye gin, maraschino, Ethiopian coffee, and milk) ($10).

Coffee drinks at the Sugar Shack in Shaw.
Photo: Sugar Shack

El Techo

The rooftop at El Techo is now winter-ready, so snow bunnies can enjoy a spiked hot coffee featuring mint mezcal, coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sweet whipped cream ($11).

Rito Loco’s new rooftop bar.
Photo: Rito Loco

Urbana

For a decadent treat that’s more dessert than cocktail, try the Affloatgato at Urbana — a hybrid between an affogato and a root beer float. It’s a mix of mezcal, amaro averna, vanilla syrup, and cold brew, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ($12).

A semi-private dining room at Urbana.
Photo: Urbana

Columbia Room

The Caffé Corretto Columbia is part of the current tasting menu at Columbia Room ($85-$115). It’s a mix of brandy de Jerez, coffee, golden beet grenadine, licorice root, verbena, and spicebush.

The Caffe Corretto Columbia at the Columbia Room.
Photo: Columbia Room

Bourbon Steak

The bar at Bourbon Steak has recently been revamped, and its new menu includes the Haberdashery featuring Casamigos tequila, apricot, coffee Bénédictine, and Jamaican bitters ($21).

The lounge at Bourbon Steak.
Photo: Bourbon Steak

Taberna del Alabardero

The Carajillo is a traditional Spanish drink, rumored to have originated during the Spanish occupation of Cuba. Taberna del Alabardero serves a classic take, with espresso and Licor 43 over ice ($12.50).

The main dining room at Taberna del Alabardero.
Photo: Taberna del Alabardero

Off the Record

Kiki’s Concerto at Off the Record is made with Absolut Elyx Vodka, Don Ciccio & Figli Concerto Liqueur, and espresso ($19).

Kiki’s Concerto at Off the Record.
Photo: Off the Record

Fare Well

For a vegan take on boozy coffee, head to Fare Well. The Washington Brickyard has Port City’s porter, bourbon, iced coffee, and sweet soy creamer ($12).

A cocktail at Fare Well.
Photo: Fare Well

Dirty Habit

Dirty Habit’s Wide Eyed has a hint of salt in addition to plenty of coffee ($14). It includes Hamilton Jamaican black rum, macadamia orgeat, salted falernum, cream, and cold brew from local producer Vigilante Coffee.

The patio bar at Dirty Habit.
Photo: Dirty Habit

Carmine's

Naturally, Carmine’s serves an Italian-themed coffee drink. The Tuscan Coffee has Tuscan vanilla liqueur, Italian coffee, melted chocolate, and whipped cream ($9.50).

Tuscan coffee at Carmine.
Photo: Carmine’s

Bayou Bakery

This New Orleans-inspired eatery has a version of Irish coffee inspired by the Big Easy. The Irish Channel Au Lait includes coffee, Irish cream liqueur, whipped cream, and cinnamon ($8). 

Bayou Bakery in Arlington, Va.
Photo: Bayou Bakery

Barrel

Coffee is for Closers appears during weekend brunch ($12) at this Capitol Hill bar. The drink is made with whiskey, demerara syrup, orange bitters, nitro cold brew, cream, and nutmeg.

The Coffee is for Closers at Barrel.
Photo: Barrel

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