Coffee liqueur and Jamaican light rum, blended with milk and ice until smooth, give the Jamaica Kiss its rich, milkshake-like body. The liqueur's roasted sweetness sits against the rum's grassy, tropical character, producing a drink that is both indulgent and easy to take. Served in a hurricane glass, it carries a full tiki presentation and a strength near 14 percent ABV. Filed as a shake cocktail, it leans toward the dessert end of the spectrum, its frozen texture and creamy sweetness defining the experience more than any single spirit note.
On this page
Jamaica Kiss
Malzemeler
- Coffee Liqueur 1 shot
- Light rum 1 shot Jamaican
- Ice cubes
- Milk 1 oz
Talimatlar
Fill a tumbler with ice cubes. Add a shot of Tia Maria and a shot of Jamaican light rum. Fill the tumbler with milk. Blend until smooth and serve immediately.
Jamaica Kiss is a tropical shake cocktail that blends coffee liqueur and Jamaican light rum with milk and ice until smooth. The coffee liqueur's roasted sweetness and the rum's tropical, grassy character create a rich, milkshake-like drink that is both indulgent and refreshing. It is served in a hurricane glass for a full tiki presentation.
History & Origins
Jamaica Kiss draws on two quintessential Jamaican exports — rum and coffee — to create a blended cocktail in the Tiki tradition popularized by American bar culture from the 1950s onward. Coffee liqueur in this style often references Tia Maria, which was created in Jamaica in the 1940s using local coffee. The exact origin of this specific blended combination is disputed.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Rich coffee liqueur, tropical rum, and a creamy milk sweetness. Palate: Smooth and creamy, with coffee's roasted bitterness balanced by the rum's fruity-tropical character and the milk's dairy richness creating a thick, shake-like texture. Finish: Long and sweet, with coffee and rum warmth persisting.
Pro Tip
Blend the coffee liqueur, rum, milk, and ice until completely smooth for a thick shake texture; serve immediately before the ice melts and dilutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Jamaica Kiss cocktail?
A Jamaica Kiss is built with coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa or Tia Maria, Jamaican dark rum, and milk or cream. The combination creates a smooth, dessert-style drink with coffee bitterness, tropical rum depth, and a creamy finish. It is similar in style to a White Russian but with Caribbean rum instead of vodka.
How is a Jamaica Kiss served?
The Jamaica Kiss is typically served over ice in a rocks glass or in a tall glass with ice. The ingredients are poured over ice and either stirred gently or left to create a layered effect with the cream floating on top. A straw is usually provided.
What is the approximate ABV of a Jamaica Kiss?
Coffee liqueur is typically 20–26% ABV and Jamaican rum is usually 40% ABV. The addition of milk dilutes the final drink, placing a Jamaica Kiss at roughly 15–20% alcohol by volume depending on the milk-to-spirit ratio used.
Embed on your site — CocktailFYI
Add the widget to any webpage using a script tag.
<div data-cocktailfyi="recipe" data-slug="jamaica-kiss"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Embed using a standard iframe — works in any CMS.
<iframe src="https://cocktailfyi.com/iframe/recipe/jamaica-kiss/" width="100%" height="480" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="CocktailFYI recipe widget"></iframe>Paste the URL into WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-aware editor.
https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/jamaica-kiss/Add a badge linking back to CocktailFYI.
<a href="https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/jamaica-kiss/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://cocktailfyi.com/badge/site.svg" alt="CocktailFYI" height="20">
</a>
Use the CocktailFYI WordPress plugin shortcode.
[drinkfyi-recipe site="cocktailfyi" slug="jamaica-kiss"]Use as a native HTML custom element in modern browsers.
<cocktailfyi-recipe slug="jamaica-kiss" theme="light"></cocktailfyi-recipe>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Powered by CocktailFYI
Docs →