It may already be August, but temperatures are still soaring and show no signs of letting up. Lucky for you, we have a new seasonal drink to take the edge off that Kentuckiana summer. The Kentucky Cuban is a riff on a Cuban Café con Leche. Like the classic Caribbean beverage, the Kentucky Cuban features espresso and sweetened condensed milk. The Kentucky twist comes from two ingredients made by Louisville's own, Bourbon Barrel Foods. The Madagascar Vanilla Extract and Bourbon Smoked Simple Syrup are treated with used bourbon barrels, which lends a unique smoky taste. The result is a beverage that is sweet, complex, and surprisingly refreshing. Our baristas have already grown to love this drink and we're sure you will too.
If you're interested in making this drink at home we recently shared a DIY recipe with the Courier-Journal.
The Kentucky Cuban (DIY version)
- 4 oz cold brew concentrate
- 4 oz whole milk
- 25 g. sweetened condensed milk
- 15 g. Bourbon Smoked Simple Syrup
- 5 g. Madagascar Vanilla Extract
- Mix ingredients thoroughly. Serve over ice and enjoy!