It's not an April Fool's prank—Bacardi announced on Instagram that the discontinued favorite Patrón XO Cafe, a staple at clubs and parties, has returned. The tequila-based coffee liqueur was deeply mourned (there was even an obituary posted and a petition to bring it back with over 4,100 signatures) when it was removed from shelves in 2021. Bartenders and cocktail lovers will be happy to learn that this is no joke, and the rich blend of coffee and tequila is back—for a limited time.
Made with blue agave, the premium reposado tequila and authentic Mexican Arabica bean coffee join forces to create the sippable XO Cafe flavors, along with hints of vanilla and chocolate. If the blend of coffee and tequila sounds interesting to you, expect a balance of sweetness and dryness in the flavor profile. The not overly-sugary spirit adds a complex taste to mixed cocktails or poured over ice cream for a grown-up affogato.
Since the discontinuation of Patrón XO Cafe, social media users haven't been shy about expressing their exasperation. As recently as March 31, @michellebellexo posted about a magical drink called Baby Guinness, traditionally made with XO Cafe, that just didn't hit the the same when concocted with Kahlua.
If you're new to using XO Cafe, Bacardi's Espresso Martini Cocktail recipe is a delicious place to start. Mix one up and see what you think of this liqueur that so many people are obsessing over.
- The 1½ oz. Patrón Reposado
- The 1 oz. espresso
- ¾ oz. Patrón XO Cafe
- ¼ oz. simple syrup
- Small pinch of sea salt
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with three coffee beans.
At $43, a bottle of XO Cafe isn't as expensive as many other specialty liqueurs, which could be why Bacardi discontinued it. At the time, Patrón Tequila president and COO Mauricio Vergara said the team would be working on "growing and protecting production and supply of our core super and ultra-premium tequilas," as reported by Cosmopolitan UK.
It's possible that the high demand finally wore them down, or perhaps those at Bacardi who enjoyed Patrón XO Cafe rallied for its return. Whatever the reason, it's not a bad idea to stock up on the coffee liqueur before it flies off the shelves and disappears again.