Yorkshire Coffee Experts Creating Award-Winning Coffee Liqueurs
Coffee Spirit Co was founded in York by Gordon Howell and Yan with one goal: to create a coffee liqueur worthy of exceptional coffee.
Today, our NORSE CODE range includes Hel Above, Hel Below and limited Exceptional Series releases, including EX-01. Each expression is built around real coffee, Cold-Filter Brew extraction and a clear role in the glass.
Unlike many coffee liqueurs developed primarily from a spirits-first perspective, NORSE CODE was created through speciality coffee knowledge, small-batch development and a brewing-led approach to flavour.
Every batch is designed around coffee character, careful extraction, balanced sweetness, texture and cocktail performance.
Award-Winning Yorkshire Coffee Liqueur
NORSE CODE Hel Below was named Country Winner for England in the Coffee Liqueur category at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards and awarded Gold at the Global Liqueur Masters 2025.
- World Liqueur Awards 2026: Country Winner for England in the Coffee Liqueur category.
- Global Liqueur Masters 2025: Gold Medal for Hel Below.
- International Spirits Challenge 2025: Bronze Medal recognition for Hel Above.
- Great Taste Award-winning coffee: Coffee selected from award-winning Yorkshire roasting partners.
These awards recognise flavour, balance, texture, coffee character and cocktail performance — the same qualities we focus on in every batch.
Gordon Howell: The Coffee Expertise Behind NORSE CODE
Gordon Howell is one of the UK's most accomplished coffee professionals, bringing two decades of speciality coffee, competition, judging, training, brewing and equipment experience into the development of NORSE CODE.
UK Champion
UK Brewers Cup Champion and UK Coffee in Good Spirits Champion.
World-Level Results
World Coffee in Good Spirits 3rd place and World Brewers Cup 7th place.
Tone Brewing Equipment
Co-founder of Tone Brewing Equipment, bringing precision brewing expertise into the coffee liqueur category.
Gordon's experience working with extraction, roast profile, flavour balance, brewing equipment and coffee preparation shaped the Cold-Filter Brew process used throughout the NORSE CODE range.
This is why NORSE CODE is not simply a coffee-flavoured spirit. It is a coffee-led liqueur range built by people who understand coffee first.
Our Cold-Filter Brew Process
Our signature Cold-Filter Brew process was developed to preserve coffee character, body and balance in a finished liqueur.
By controlling extraction, filtration, contact time and blending, we create a smoother, more structured coffee base without relying on generic coffee flavouring or instant concentrate.
The result is a Yorkshire coffee liqueur with real roast depth, smoother sweetness and better cocktail performance.
Our Coffee & Roaster
Our coffee is supplied by Yorkshire roaster Danelaw Coffee, led by roaster Dave Jameson.
The coffees selected for NORSE CODE are chosen for their suitability in coffee liqueur production, where extraction, sweetness, body and cocktail performance all matter.
By combining award-winning coffee, precise brewing and small-batch production, we create coffee liqueurs with genuine depth rather than simple coffee sweetness.
Our Norse Inspiration
The name Hel on our labels references the Norse goddess, reflecting the bold, layered and darkly indulgent character of our coffee liqueurs.
York's Viking history, Nordic coffee culture and the old rebellious reputation of coffee all helped shape the identity behind NORSE CODE.
Our Coffee Liqueurs
Every NORSE CODE coffee liqueur is created with a specific serve in mind.
Hel Below
Hel Below is our richer 16% ABV coffee liqueur, designed for Baby Guinness shots, Espresso Martinis, layered coffee cocktails and after-dinner serves.
Hel Above
Hel Above is our stronger 22% ABV coffee liqueur, created for Espresso Martinis and coffee-led cocktails that need more structure, depth and intensity.
EX-01
EX-01 is the first release in our Exceptional Series, limited to 26 bottles and built around Carlos Arcila Colombian Gesha coffee.
Coffee Liqueur for Bars, Restaurants and Trade Buyers
NORSE CODE is available in 70cl bottles and 4.9 litre trade tubs for bars, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers and venues serving Espresso Martinis, Baby Guinness shots and coffee cocktails.
Our trade formats are designed to reduce waste, improve speed of service and give venues a better coffee liqueur option for high-volume serves.
Why We Created NORSE CODE
Many coffee liqueurs focus on sweetness first and coffee second.
We believed coffee deserved better.
NORSE CODE was created to showcase real coffee flavour through careful extraction, premium ingredients and small-batch production in Yorkshire.
The result is a range of award-winning coffee liqueurs designed for Espresso Martinis, Baby Guinness serves, modern coffee cocktails and people who care about the coffee in their drink.