With torrential rain battering my window and temperatures sinking fast, my thoughts are switching from chilled Chablis in the sun to something warmer and cosier. The usual suspects are great but I’m seriously excited to discover Café Solo. The clue’s in the name, meaning Just Coffee in Spanish.

As an amateur coffee aficionada I’m thrilled that this UK company majors on the quality of the cold brew coffee in this fabulous liquor. Consisting of 100% arabica beans and 80 plus speciality grade, it’s directly traded from Brazil and Colombia. You can also buy the coffee as a concentrate – cleverly combining high quality coffee with convenience.

Café Solo liqueur combines this fabulous coffee with premium vodka and natural sugar – that’s it. It’s described as a bold, rich flavour profile with hints of dark fruit acidity, chocolate, and vanilla notes, culminating in a subtle sweet finish. I can’t better this description and I can confirm it’s totally delicious. Warm, powerful, comforting, perfect for a cold dark winter evening, which will be with us only too soon. With an ABV of 25% the vodka packs a punch and the delicate sweetness blends perfectly with the rich coffee flavour. And this isn’t just my opinion, Café Solo Original achieved both Gold and Country Winner at the World Liqueur Awards 2024.

However there’s more. Café Solo recently launched their ready-to-drink Espresso Martini in a can. Usually I’m wary of canned alcoholic combinations but Café Solo Espresso Martini is pure joy. Made using Café Solo Original Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, Premium British Vodka and SOLO Coffee Espresso Strength Cold Brew, you simply shake the chilled black-and-white can and pour, then enjoy a bar-quality 15% ABV martini – shaken not stirred and beautifully frothy. Such a clever idea.

So if you’re as excited as I am about these great new bevvies, give them a try.

Café Solo Original Coffee Liqueur RRP: From around £30 for a 70cl bottle. ABV: 25%. Available from Amazon and Drink Supermarket.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.