Drink

Admittedly, the color of coffee cocktails isn’t always the most appetizing, but this is often made up for in taste, aroma and pure energy. Italian brand Illy, at the forefront of coffee-cocktail mixing, ran a worldwide cocktail competition which hit Spain this July. You can browse the entries online at drinksmotion.com and try them out at home, or head to the bar at W Barcelona Hotel and sample an “Italian Breakfast,” the winning confection. Created by acclaimed bartender Andrea di Giogia, this cocktail is made from tequila, coffee, strawberry jam, dried strawberries, and chocolate.

If the dropping temperatures are keeping you away from the seafront, we recommend instead Negroni, which has a selection of coffee-related drinks perfectly suited to the winter months. Coffee is versatile, though, and classic liquors such as Kahlua and Tia Maria prove that in its various forms, coffee flavored liquors can be a staple summer refreshment when served chilled.

Coffee works best with strong and distinctive flavors, adding personality and punch, so if you are after a new dimension of sensory cocktail drinking, look no further.

This feature comes from Diego Arnold of Drinksmotion, a company offering mixology courses and bartending services for club, corporate and personal events throughout the world.

Negroni. C/ Joaquín Costa, 46 (Raval).

W Barcelona Hotel. Plaça de la Rosa dels Vents, 1