Does the Kahlua go bad? - What you need to know?

The Kahlua is one of the best gifts to share or receive, and is a staple in any home bar or liquor cabinet.

This coffee-flavored rum is the base for many of our favorite easy-to-make cocktails, including Mudslides, White Russians, B-52s, and easy Espresso Martinis.

With so many options, it makes sense to grab the biggest bottle you can find. But if you end up not throwing as many cocktail parties as you thought, you may be looking at your bottle and wondering, “does the Kahlua go bad?”

So does the Kahlua go bad?

Kahlua will begin to degrade in quality, flavor, and aroma about 4 years after bottling. However, it will not “spoil” from mold or fermentation.

If Kahlua’s long shelf life has intrigued you, this article will answer all your questions about its composition, why it can be so shelf-stable, how best to store it, and a few other pertinent questions about the liquor.

What is Kahlua?

Kahlua is a coffee-flavored liqueur made with rum, sugar and, above all, 100% Arabica coffee.

Arabica coffee is believed to be the first coffee to be cultivated and today accounts for approximately 60% of the world’s coffee production.

For those curious about what Kahlua means, the answer lies in its origin.

The Kahlua was originally invented in Veracruz, Mexico, and, in Nahuatl, one of the indigenous languages of the region, means “house of the Acolhua people.” The Acolhua were a sister culture to the Aztecs.

What is the Kahlua made of?

As mentioned, Kahlua is made with coffee, sugar, and rum.

Coffee is an important part of the production process and the manufacturer waits up to 6 years for a perfect crop to grow for their needs. Then you have to harvest it, let it rest and toast it.

As an alcoholic beverage, the rum component is even more important. Kahlua makes its rum with sugar cane, and not the popular molasses that many other brands of rum are made with.

This creates an earthy and grassy flavored rum that nicely complements the flavor of the coffee.

Obviously, it’s not a pure alcohol, since it contains coffee, so how much alcohol does Kahlua have? The original coffee liqueur is 20% alcohol by volume (ABV).

What does the Kahlua taste like?

Kahlua is surprisingly sweet, but the flavor that stands out the most is that of coffee. Of course, it also has a nice rum flavor, which provides a warm aftertaste when you drink it.

Many people confuse Kahlua with Baileys , which is a creamy chocolate liqueur. They don’t taste alike, but Baileys is often added to coffee drinks, hence the confusion.

Does the Kahlua go bad?

Now that you know what this coffee-flavored rum is, it’s time to answer the burning question: does Kahlua go bad?

Yes, it can and will go bad, but not in the traditional moldy or sour sense.

Instead, when the Kahlua goes bad, it’s just not good to drink anymore. Its quality has deteriorated to the point that it is no longer as pleasant to consume, but it is not unsafe.

The good news is that it takes a long time before that happens.

Does Kahlua spoil once opened?

No, Kahlua’s ingredients prevent it from spoiling in the more common use of the word. The alcohol and sugar content makes the liquor inhospitable to bacteria and other pathogens, so even after opening it doesn’t go bad.

However, the flavor and aroma are more sensitive to exposure to air, so keep the bottle tightly closed once opened.

If you were to leave the bottle open at all times, it would still be safe to drink, but the compounds that provide the delicious coffee flavor will lose their potency much more quickly.

Alcohol also evaporates, so if you leave the bottle open, the volume will start to reduce rapidly.

Do Kahlua flavors go bad?

Kahlua Flavors add another layer of rich flavor to your favorite coffee-flavored liqueur.

There are many to choose from including Vanilla, Hazelnut, Mocha and Mint Mocha, Cinnamon, Chocolate Chili, and Salted Caramel. The company also brings out seasonal options, like pumpkin spice.

Although the basic recipe remains the same, the manufacturer suggests that Kahlua Flavors be consumed within 2 years, rather than 4, from the date of production.

Again, as with its original formula, this recommendation is not based on the fact that the product is unsafe to drink, but rather that the flavors will no longer be as strong as intended.

Kahlua flavors do not go bad, but after 2 years they may not taste as you want. You don’t want a perfectly delicious drink to go bad, so you better drink it on time.

Does the Kahlua Mudslide go bad?

Kahlua Mudslide is a ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage available in 200ml or 1.75l bottles.

In addition to the traditional coffee and rum, a Kahlua Mudslide also has a dairy concentrate to make it deliciously creamy, and it’s sweetened with caramel instead of sugar.

By making this RTD drink, the alcohol content drops significantly, down to 5% ABV. This lower alcohol level, as well as the introduction of diary and caramel, decreases the possible shelf life of the drink.

Kahlua recommends storing Mudslide for no more than 1 year after production. Unlike the original liqueur, Mudslide can curdle or go moldy due to its milk content.

Once the bottle is opened, keep the cap sealed as much as possible and refrigerate the remains.

Always pour the Mudslide from the bottle into another glass . This way, if there are leftovers to save, you don’t risk contaminating them by drinking directly from the bottle.

Even if you’re the only one drinking it and you’re not worried about catching your own germs, they can evolve into pathogens that will spoil your drink more quickly.

Kahlua ready to drink

In addition to their Mudslide RTD, Kahlua has 3 other RTD mixes: White Russian, Vanilla White Russian, and Kahlua Latte. All of these drinks contain milk or protein concentrates.

As with Mudslide, the manufacturer suggests that all of their other RTD options be consumed within 1 year of production and refrigerated after opening.

Because they contain real dairy, these Kahulua RTD drinks may curdle or sour if not refrigerated after opening.

However, they are shelf stable, so before breaking the seal they can be stored in any cool, dry place, out of direct light.

How long does the Kahlua last?

The manufacturer establishes a recommended duration for the Kahlua of 4 years from the date of production. This does not change, regardless of whether the bottle has been opened or how it is stored.

Some liquor manufacturers stamp the production date on their bottles, making it easy for consumers to do the math themselves. Kahlua doesn’t. Instead, they stamp their bottles with a LOT code, a combination of letters and numbers.

If you think your Kahlua has been in storage for more than 4 years, or could live that long, you will need to email the company with the LOT number to find the production date.

How long does homemade Kahlua last?

Making Homemade Off-Brand Kahlua isn’t hard at all, and while it’ll never be exactly like the original, it’s still delicious.

To make your own Kahlua-style liqueur, you’ll need to start with equal parts white rum, sugar, and strong, brewed coffee.

To start, create a syrup by reducing the coffee and sugar in a saucepan over low heat for 10 minutes. Once the syrup has cooled, mix it into the rum. If you want, add caramel or vanilla extract.

Your homemade Kahlua is now ready to be enjoyed, but first you need to bottle it. Be sure to sterilize the bottle before filling it, and if possible, use a dark glass liquor bottle with a tight-fitting stopper.

What you don’t drink can be stored just like the original Kahlua drink. Since the ingredients and alcohol content are similar, so is the shelf life.

Homemade Kahlua will last up to 4 years from when you first made it, as long as you used clean, sterile production methods and stored it, unopened, in a cool, dry place.

Does Kahlua expire?

Kahlua doesn’t necessarily expire or have an expiration date, but it can lose its flavor over time. Coffee flavor degrades over time, leaving you with a less intense flavor and more unbalanced sweetness.

There is no date stamped or engraved on the Kahlua bottles. The only thing you’ll find is the LOT code, which can lead you to the production date of the batch of alcohol your bottle was poured from.

As we have said before, the manufacturer suggests that the best quality of the Kahlua will be enjoyed during the first 4 years of its life. After that, it will still be safe to drink, but it may not be as tasty.

Does the Kahlua need to be refrigerated?

Kahlua’s flavor and quality degrades very slowly over time, regardless of where and how it is stored. With that said, it’s always a good idea to store any alcohol out of direct sunlight and away from direct exposure to heat.

Kahlua comes in a heavy, dark glass bottle that protects the liquid inside well from UV exposure, but you should still store it in a cool, dry place out of direct light.

Can Old Kahlua Make You Sick?

No, the old Kahlua is no more likely to make you sick than the young Kahlua. You may not enjoy the taste as much as you used to, but it won’t be dangerous or unsafe to drink.

However, any alcohol can make you sick if you drink too much at one time, are not used to the effects of alcohol, or are intolerant of it.

Kahlua, in particular, is made from rum, so if you have a sensitivity to this particular type of alcohol, it can make you sick every time you drink it, regardless of how old the bottle is.

Similarly, if you’re sensitive to caffeine or coffee, Kahlua may irritate you, but this has nothing to do with the spirit’s age.

Related questions

Does Kahlua have caffeine?

Yes. Kahlua is made with real strong coffee and therefore contains caffeine. The alcohol does not burn the caffeine content at all.

The Kahlua Original contains approximately 100 ppm of caffeine. This roughly translates to about 5 mg per 1.5 ounces. It’s enough caffeine to be declared, but it’s still a small amount.

An 8-ounce latte contains about 200mg of caffeine versus a paltry 27mg for the same amount of Kahlua. Their other flavors contain similar levels of caffeine and their RTD bottles even less.

Is Kahlua vegan?

No, none of the Kahlua family spirits are suitable for vegans, although the manufacturer does not explain why the non-dairy Kahluas are not vegan.

Their ready-to-drink bottles are all made with milk or protein concentrates, and it explicitly states on their website that even the Original blend and family of Flavors are NOT acceptable for a vegan diet.

Does the amaretto go bad?

Amaretto is a sweet almond-flavored liqueur made by combining pure alcohol with sugar and a selection of herbs and fruits that do not actually contain almonds.

Some amaretes from other brands may be made with almond extract, so if you are allergic to nuts, you should do your research before drinking this type of liquor.

Amaretto has an alcohol by volume percentage of between 21 and 28%, which is enough to prevent any pathogens from living in or on the liquid.

It has no ingredients that spoil easily, so it can be stored in any cool, dry place, like the liquor cabinet.

The bottle should always be tightly closed when not in use, because alcohol evaporates and will lose its volume quickly. The flavor will also deteriorate over time, once opened.

Amaretto will not go bad to the point of becoming unsafe for consumption, but once the bottle is opened, it should be enjoyed within 5 years to ensure the best flavor and aroma. An unopened bottle can last indefinitely.

Is the Frangelico spoiled?

Frangelico is a hazelnut flavored liqueur, fortified with coffee, cocoa and vanilla extracts to obtain a complex, sweet but perfectly balanced and versatile liqueur.

Like the other liquors analyzed in this article, there is no ingredient that spoils or is unsafe, especially since it is contained in high-grade alcohol.

However, the Frangelico has many subtle flavors. Once the bottle is opened, these flavors will begin to fade at different rates, although you’re not likely to notice any substantial fade until 4-5 years after opening the bottle.

If the bottle is never opened, it will remain safe and of good quality indefinitely.

Is Aunt Maria spoiled?

Tía María is very similar to Kahlua. It is a sweet liqueur made specifically from 100% cold-brewed Arabica coffee.

It was developed in Jamaica, and was originally made with Jamaican rum, Jamaican coffee beans and Jamaican vanilla, and sugar. It is currently produced in Italy.

The ingredients are very similar to those of Kahlua, and the shelf life is arguably the same. It will last indefinitely if the bottle is unopened, but the flavor will slowly start to disintegrate over the years.

Tia Maria also produces a line of ready-to-drink beverages, although they are not available worldwide.

Their Cold Brew Ready Nitro Cocktail is a take on an iced coffee frappuccino. However, it contains milk, so it will go bad once opened.

These RTD beverages come in single-serving containers. However, it is unlikely that you will need to store them, once opened, for any considerable time.

Try to drink your can within 2-3 days of opening, at the latest.