Tia Maria

Last updated

Tia Maria is a dark coffee liqueur with an alcoholic content of 20%. Tia Maria (7. november 2018).jpg
Tia Maria is a dark coffee liqueur with an alcoholic content of 20%.

Tia Maria is a dark coffee liqueur made in Italy using Jamaican coffee beans. The main ingredients are coffee beans, Jamaican rum, vanilla, and sugar, blended to an alcoholic content of 20%.

Contents

History

Tia Maria was originally made in Jamaica, the historical fable of its origins dates it to the 17th century. A young Spanish girl was forced to flee Jamaica, and the family plantation during a conflict. She was accompanied by a sole female servant who carried a bit of jewelry and the recipe for the family liqueur. In honor of the woman's help, the girl named the liqueur "Tia Maria" (tía is Spanish for "aunt"), her name for the woman who had helped save her life. This fable may have been part of a marketing campaign, however. In his book Jamaica Farewell, [1] Morris Cargill recounts having had the idea for developing a coffee liqueur similar to one his aunt used to make. In 1946, he had, to no avail, tried to get the original recipe from his aunt and subsequently connected with Dr Ken Evans, who then developed the recipe. They partnered with others in Jamaica (Herbert Hart, Eustace Myers of Myers Rum, and Paul Geddes of Desnoes & Geddes) to produce the first five thousand cases, with Blue Mountain coffee supplied by Keble Munn. Cargill contracted the London ad agency J.P. MacNulty to brand the product and design the labels. They spent days trying to come up with a name, until Cargill recounted the story of trying to get his aunt's original recipe and Joseph MacNulty said, "I know exactly what we'll call that damn liqueur. Aunt Mary – Tia Maria." [1]

Another account of its history says that a man named Dr. Evans discovered the drink after World War II, and he began reproducing it. This story of Dr. Evans' devotion to the drink is part of the official website's history, however. [2] The Jamaican company Lascelles deMercado, producer of Appleton Rum, supposedly manufactured the concentrate from which the liqueur was made, at least, up until the time it was sold by Pernod. [3] As recently as the 1980s, Tia Maria was made with an alcohol concentration of 31.5% and positioned as a premium liqueur compared to the substantially different product now produced at 20% ABV. In 1985, brand owners Hiram Walker sued the Kirk Line over the loss of five thousand gallons of Tia Maria it had acquired from Estate Industries in Jamaica but was spilt in an accident. [4]

Control of the Tia Maria brand moved to Europe in 1987 when Allied-Lyons of the UK acquired Canadian spirits company Hiram Walker. [5] The brand then became part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio in 2005 through its acquisition of rival firm Allied-Domecq. [6] As part of a debt reduction programme, Pernod Ricard sold it to ILLVA Saronno  [ it ] in July 2009. [7] [8] Following the sale, Chivas Brothers produced it for Saronno before production was transferred to Illva Saronno's distillery in Saronno, Italy. [9] [10] Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. distributed it in the U.S. for Saronno. [11] As of August 1, 2012, Kobrand became the distributor. [12] [13]

Cocktails

Tia Maria can be consumed straight with ice but is also frequently used as an ingredient for cocktails or with coffee. It may also be mixed with milk and ice.

Some cocktails include the Tia Espresso Martini, the Dark Tia made with dark rum, the Jaffa Sam made with Tia Maria and orange juice, the Tia Maria and cola, or the Skinny Tia White Russian made with Tia Maria, vodka, and skimmed milk. Another cocktail known as a 'Baby Guinness' is Tia Maria mixed in equal parts with Baileys or another Irish cream.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kahlúa</span> Coffee-flavoured liqueur

Kahlúa is a brand of coffee liqueur owned by the Pernod Ricard company and produced in Veracruz, Mexico. The drink contains rum, sugar, and arabica coffee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Russian (cocktail)</span> Cocktail made with vodka and coffee liqueur

A white Russian is a cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur and cream served with ice in an old fashioned glass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zombie (cocktail)</span> Cocktail made of fruit juices and rum

The Zombie is a Tiki cocktail made of fruit juices, liqueurs, and various rums. It first appeared in late 1934, invented by Donn Beach at his Hollywood Don the Beachcomber restaurant. It was popularized on the East coast soon afterwards at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sazerac</span> Cognac or whiskey cocktail

The Sazerac is a local variation of a cognac or whiskey cocktail originally from New Orleans, named for the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of cognac brandy that served as its original main ingredient. The drink is most traditionally a combination of cognac or rye whiskey, absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters, and sugar, although bourbon whiskey is sometimes substituted for the rye and Herbsaint is sometimes substituted for the absinthe. Some claim it is the oldest known American cocktail, with origins in antebellum New Orleans, although drink historian David Wondrich is among those who dispute this, and American instances of published usage of the word cocktail to describe a mixture of spirits, bitters, and sugar can be traced to the dawn of the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish coffee</span> Drink containing coffee, whiskey and whipped cream

Irish coffee is a caffeinated alcoholic drink consisting of Irish whiskey, hot coffee and sugar, which has been stirred and topped with cream. The coffee is drunk through the cream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amaretto</span> Italian almond liqueur

Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur originating from the comune (municipality) of Saronno. Depending on the brand, it may be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones, or almonds, all of which are natural sources of the benzaldehyde that provides the almond-like flavour of the liqueur. It generally contains 21 to 28 percent alcohol by volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allied Domecq</span> 1994–2005 British alcoholic beverages manufacturer

Allied Domecq PLC was an multinational company, headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pernod Ricard</span> French company that produces distilled beverages

Pernod Ricard is a French company best known for its anise-flavoured pastis apéritifs Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis. The world's second-largest wine and spirits seller, it also produces several other types of pastis.

Lamb's Navy Rum is a sugar-cane based Caribbean rum popular in the UK and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Becherovka</span> Herbal bitters from the Czech Republic

Becherovka, formerly Karlsbader Becherbitter, is a herbal bitters, often drunk as a digestif. It is produced in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic by the Jan Becher company. The brand is owned by Pernod Ricard. It is made from a secret recipe based on more than twenty types of herbs and spices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malibu (rum)</span> Coconut flavored liqueur

Malibu is a coconut flavored liqueur, made with white rum, and having an alcohol content by volume of 21.0%. Since 2005 the Malibu brand has been owned by Pernod Ricard, which calls it a "flavored rum", where this designation is allowed by local laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liqueur coffee</span> Coffee-based cocktail

A liqueur coffee is a caffeinated alcoholic drink that consists of a shot of liqueur, mixed with coffee. It is typically served in a liqueur glass, often accompanied with cream and sugar. Coffee liqueur beverages are served in different fashions and can be found throughout many countries. One of the most popular liqueur coffee beverage is commonly known as Irish coffee. Liqueur coffee beverages are largely classified as cocktails as well as digestifs which are aimed at aiding the digestive process typically after a meal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B-52 (cocktail)</span> Cocktail of coffee liqueur, Irish cream, triple sec and Sambuca

The B-52 cocktail is a layered shot composed of coffee liqueur (Kahlúa), Irish cream, and Grand Marnier. When prepared properly, the ingredients separate into three distinctly visible layers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark 'n' stormy</span> Highball cocktail

A dark 'n' stormy is a highball cocktail made with dark rum and ginger beer served over ice and garnished with a slice of lime. Lime juice and simple syrup are also frequently added. This drink is very similar to the Moscow mule except that the Dark 'n' Stormy has dark rum instead of vodka. The original Dark 'n' Stormy was made with Gosling Black Seal rum and Barritt's Ginger Beer, but after the partnership between the two failed and the companies parted ways, Gosling Brothers created its own ginger beer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corby Spirit and Wine</span> Canadian alcohol company

Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a Canadian alcohol manufacturing and distribution company. It was founded in 1859 in Corbyville, Ontario. As of 2008, the company is 46% owned by Pernod Ricard. The company distills several Canadian specialities, as well as marketing Pernod Ricard's products in Canada. Corby is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols CSW.A and CSW.B. Corby is known for funding free travel on the TTC on New Years Eve in Toronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuemmerling</span> Type of herb liquor

Kuemmerling is the brandname of a type of Kräuterlikör from Germany, belonging to the group of Halbbitter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricard (liqueur)</span> French beverage

Ricard is a pastis, an anise and licorice-flavored apéritif, created by Marseille native Paul Ricard in 1932, who marketed it as the "true pastis from Marseille".

References

  1. 1 2 Cargill, Morris (1978). Jamaica Farewell. Secaucus, NJ: Lyle Stuart, Inc. p. 134. ISBN   0-8184-0269-5.
  2. "Tia Maria".
  3. "Jamaica Gleaner". Archived from the original on 3 July 2013.
  4. "HIRAM WALKER SONS, INC. v. KIRK LINE". casemine.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  5. "Allied-Lyons Buying Full Control of Hiram Walker Liquor Business". Associated Press .
  6. "Allied Domecq (UK)". 3 October 2017. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022.
  7. "Drinks Daily".
  8. "Beverage Business". Archived from the original on 17 January 2013.
  9. "Moodie Report". 26 July 2009.
  10. "About us | Tia Maria | Tia Maria".
  11. "PR Newswire" . Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  12. "Kobrand Wine & Spirits" . Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  13. "Kobrand Signs Long-Term Agreement With Tia Maria". Yahoo Finance. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2023.