National Kahlua Day

National Kahlúa Day, observed February 27th, celebrates the coffee-flavored liqueur that has become a staple of American cocktail culture. Kahlúa was created in 1936 in Veracruz, Mexico, blending rum, sugar, and coffee grown in the region into a rich, dark liqueur, with the name believed to derive from an Arabic-influenced word from the region's indigenous Veracruz language meaning "house of the Acolhua people," referencing local heritage. The liqueur gained major popularity in the United States starting in the mid-20th century as tiki bar culture and imported spirits grew in popularity, and it became a foundational ingredient in several now-iconic cocktails, most notably the White Russian, made with vodka, Kahlúa, and cream, and the Espresso Martini, which combines vodka, Kahlúa, and freshly brewed espresso for a caffeinated twist on a classic cocktail format. Kahlúa is also frequently used in baking and dessert-making, adding a coffee-liqueur depth to items like tiramisu, chocolate cakes, and coffee-flavored ice cream. As one of the best-known coffee liqueurs globally, Kahlúa helped establish an entire category of coffee-based spirits that other brands have since expanded on. On National Kahlúa Day, people celebrate by mixing a Kahlúa-based cocktail or baking with it.