Tia Maria

Tia Maria is a Jamaican coffee liqueur that was first introduced in the 1940s. The base is made with Jamaican rum, and the flavorings include Jamaican coffee and vanilla beans from Madagascar. The drink is smooth, fragrant, and full-bodied while the usual notes include aromas of vanilla and coffee.

Although Dr. Kenneth Leigh Evans was the first to commercialize Tia Maria, it is believed that he based his recipe on an ancient Jamaican coffee liqueur which dates back to the mid-17th century. According to a legend, the recipe was owned by a young heiress who fled Jamaica to escape the war.

Her maid preserved the recipe for the liqueur, and to show respect the heiress eventually named the drink after the maid. Tia Maria is bottled at 20% ABV, and though it works well mixed with cola, milk, or coffee, it is also great on its own, preferably served over ice.