Black Gold XO Cafe Tequila. "It's utterly delicious!"

One of the members of out tasting team is not a fan of Tequila. However, upon tasting Black Gold XO Cafe Tequila they said: "Wow! This is utterly delicious!" I agree with them.

The launch arrives to fill premium coffee liqueur shaped hole left by Patron XO Café being discontinued from sale in the UK.

It's a sumptuous blend of the finest quality coffee combined with the smoothest tequila. 

It's already available to purchase online at a price to match Patron XO Café.

A spokesperson told That's Food and Drink: "It's a new premium Coffee Tequila brand, Black Gold XO Café, which has been launched in a bid to fill the unfortunate void left by the discontinuation of the much-loved Patron XO Café in the UK."

Already available online at an RRP of £30, Black Gold XO Café is really the perfect blend and smoothest iteration of two of the world’s most beloved beverages, coffee, and tequila. 

Crafted to a unique recipe with meticulous attention to detail, this luxurious coffee tequila is genuinely silky smooth, rich, and full-bodied, with a subtle hint of roasted coffee beans and a warm, lingering tequila finish.  

Although the Bacardi-owned Patron XO Café was discontinued in 2021 and reintroduced in the US earlier this month, UK consumers continue to express their undoubted disappointment for its discontinuation, with the alcohol giant’s social media pages regularly flooded with outcry and calls for its return to the UK market.

 

However! Bacardi’s loss is clearly Black Gold XO Café’s gain, offering up a similar flavour profile, the same luxury experience, and all at the same price point as Patron XO Café before its discontinuation, Black Gold XO Café is offering consumers the chance to reconnect with their favourite tequila experience, both at the bar and at home. 

Soft launched to mixologists earlier this year, the reaction from those making the best cocktails is the business has been absolutely massive, with the initial small batch run rather quickly sold out.   

Black Gold XO Café is already an award-winning brand, having won gold at the 2024 Tequila & Mezcal Masters. 

The completely unbranded liquid was submitted to the awards ahead of its market launch and was judged purely on its taste, and to great, widespread acclaim.  

Said Nic Ponticakis, who has the unenviable position of being Brand Manager for Black Gold XO Café: “We're obviously thrilled to be reacquainting coffee tequila fans with their favourite liqueur.  

“You just have to look online to witness that consumers are continuing to crave this flavour combination but are yet to have their needs fully met. 

"With social media posts and petitions demanding ‘Bring back Café Patron’ we know there remains a gap in the UK coffee tequila market that needs filling, and with Black Gold XO Café, we're really  confident that we've done it. 

“With the continuing undoubted popularity of coffee-based cocktails, such as the iconic Espresso Martini, it was vital we created a coffee tequila that would be incredibly delicious both on its own, or as part of a cocktail creation. With its elegant packaging and luxuriously smooth taste profile, Black Gold XO Cafe is the perfect choice for both scenarios.  

“We can’t wait to see consumers around the UK elevating their moments of joy with Black Gold XO Café!” 

In addition to its stunning aesthetic and flavour profile, Black Gold XO Café also has a number of sustainability credentials, such as including the use of post-consumer recycled glass for its bottles, a biodegradable closure, and a stopper also made from recycled materials. 

Black Gold XO Café is available to purchase via Amazon https://amzn.to/3xqlaAN and ClicknDrink https://clickndrink.co.uk/black-gold-coffee-tequila-70cl with an ABV of 34% and in a 70cl bottle format.  

You can follow the brand on Instagram here:  

https://www.instagram.com/blackgoldxo

Are you a retailer or a cocktail bar or hotelier wanting to discuss stocking Black Gold XO Café? Then you can contact LWC Drinks https://www.lwc-drinks.co.uk

We believe that Black Gold XO Café will be an ideal addition to your Christmas and New Year drink's cabinet, so may be suggest you buy in your stocks early to avoid the rush?

Celebrity Chef Aldo Zilli becomes face of British tequila brand Mis Amigos as Essex firm strives to capture vast international market

British tequila brand Mis Amigos has announced that celebrity Chef Aldo Zilli is now their brand ambassador as they embark on a bold plan to put their bottles in the hands of mixologists behind cocktail bars all over the globe.

With annual UK sales of £500,000, the company has registered a division in the EU to sell more easily to its 27 member states and it will begin trading in 20 US states by the end of next year, where it already has orders to ship 140,000 litres (12 forty-foot containers!) in 2024.

The Essex-based firm is also in negotiations with distributors in China, Peru, Chile, and Japan to sell its drinks, with one Chinese customer placing an initial order of close to a hundred thousand bottles.

Mis Amigos flavoured tequila is the product of eighty years of cocktail mixing experience by brothers Simon and Rupert Duke. They were less than happy with the products already on the market, the mixologist duo set about designing their own super-premium range, from behind the bar of their family’s Essex restaurant.

Three years later the recipes were perfected and the Dukes were ready and eager to share their creations with British drinkers and the world's drinkers, exporting their range of cream and flavoured tequilas, plus three premium vodka and gin lines, to Europe, Asia and the United States. 

Aldo Zilli said: “When I met the Mis Amigos guys and they showed me what they had created I could immediately see lots of different ways to use it in my cooking, and that it would be a great addition to Casa Zilli.

“Tequila is such a unique and subtle spirit that combines beautifully with chocolate, and the coffee flavour makes the best tiramisu and espresso martinis, and I can’t wait to make summer desserts with the strawberry flavour.

“I love the product, so I was honoured when they asked me to join the Mis Amigos family as their brand ambassador.”

Already 120,000 litres of Mis Amigos tequila have been shipped to Miami, most of which was loaded aboard cruise liners bound for the Caribbean, and Mexico which is the spiritual home of the blue agave plant from which tequila is made.

Since breaking into the US market, the Mis Amigos team have turned their focus towards Asia with CEO Gina Duke taking the family’s tequila to major international trade shows in Mumbai and Shanghai.  As a result, the first consignment of Mis Amigos is already being drunk in India, and it's hoped last month’s trip to Shanghai will see the Chinese market open up in 2024.

Gina said: “We are very much a family firm with old-fashioned family values and it’s very important to us who we work with.  When we met Aldo we knew instantly he understood us and would be the perfect brand ambassador for us.

“We are small and based in Essex in an industry dominated by some very huge players and brands.  But what we have is a unique blend of extremely high-quality ingredients, a ‘can do’ spirit and the belief our drinks are the best in the world.

“Last month I attended a trade show in Shanghai and already I have a headache because the Chinese want 70,000 litres of our premium gin!” 

The Mis Amigos range contains chocolate and strawberry cream tequilas, plus chocolate, coffee and chocolate and lime flavours.  The range also includes ‘88’ brand vodka and gin, and Jillion’s gin, named after the Duke family’s Aunt, who worked as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during WW2.

Mis Amigos, 88, and Jillion’s gin are available in the UK at: www.gi-spiritgroup.co.uk or you can sample the pure Mis Amigos experience at La Quinta, in Benfleet, Essex, where Simon or Rupert will happily mix you a cocktail.  

Incidentally, they have three of their flavoured tequila's (chocolate, coffee, and chocolate and lime) that are vegan, as well as the vodka and gin, too.

Chiquito puts fiesta fun into Freshers Week

Mexican restaurant favourite Chiquito is putting the fiesta fun into Freshers week with a mega FREE bingo game with some amazing prizes.

Chiquito, known for its party atmosphere and great tasting Mexican cuisine, is launching the pop up bingo at universities up and down the country to celebrate Freshers (Oct 9-Nov 9).

It all kicks off at the pop up La Loteria Bingo Bar, in collaboration with Cazcabel Tequila, which will offer a FREE drinks to students who sign up to the Chiquito newsletter. Find the team at University of Portsmouth (9/10), Northumbria University (12/10), Newcastle University (13/10) and University of Leicester (16/10).

From 9th October till 9th November students will also have the opportunity to win fantastic big prizes at Chiquito. By using their ‘La Loteria’ code, which is sent via email upon signing up, students will have the chance to win a food and drinks dinner party at Chiquito worth up to £500, free nachos and churros for a year, free tacos (vegan and meat available), free churros when you order a main, 2-4-1 meals on Sundays, and more besides. To enter, all students need do is dine in and use their ‘La Loteria’ code - they’ll get a tasty 25% off mains when they do too, also!

You’ve got to be in it to win it and with that in mind, the Chiquito & Cazcabel team will be spreading La Loteria joy with a series of special immersive Bingo nights, offering 2-4-1 drinks to students all night with prizes to be won. La Loteria Bingo Nights kick off at Portsmouth on 9th October from 7.30, with more dates to be released. To find full details on Bingo nights, go to www.chiquito.co.uk/students.

Chiquito, which has been delivering the best of Mexican cuisine for over 30 years, will also be offering ALL Freshers students a range of freebies and discounts from now until Nov 9 to help them enjoy their first few weeks of term. All vouchers to be handed to their server and can be redeemed once.

The discounts include, 30% off Food (limited to Build Your Own & Fajita Section), FREE Churros Dessert (with purchase of main meal), FREE Regular Soft Drink/FREE Garlic Tortilla Bread (with purchase of main meal), FREE Nachos for a Year – Voucher (one per month for twelve months).

Chiquito Head of Brand, Sasha Storey, said: “Chiquito is a renowned destination for students, drawn in by our fiesta atmosphere and tempting cocktail menu. We've partnered up with Cazcabel this year to bring a series of exciting bingo events - known as La Loteria in Mexico. We can't wait for our freshers to immerse themselves in our Mexi-festa vibes and win some exciting prizes along the way too.”

For full terms and conditions please see: https://www.chiquito.co.uk/terms