Best Coffee Liqueur for Baby Guinness | NORSE CODE Hel Below

Award-Winning Coffee Liqueur for Baby Guinness Shots

If you are looking for the best coffee liqueur for Baby Guinness, the key is choosing a liqueur with enough body, depth and sweetness to support the cream layer without tasting thin or artificial.

NORSE CODE Hel Below was created for darker, richer serves like Baby Guinness shots, layered coffee cocktails, smoother Espresso Martinis and after-dinner drinks. At 16% ABV, it delivers smooth coffee depth, balanced sweetness and the right weight in the glass.

Named Country Winner for England at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards and a Gold Medal winner at the Global Liqueur Masters, Hel Below is an award-winning Yorkshire coffee liqueur built for modern bars, restaurants and home cocktail makers.

Shop NORSE CODE Hel Below coffee liqueur

Shop the Award-Winning Baby Guinness Bundle

View all NORSE CODE Awards & Recognition

What Is a Baby Guinness?

A Baby Guinness is a layered shot that looks like a tiny pint of stout. It is usually made with coffee liqueur as the dark base and Irish cream floated carefully on top to create the creamy head.

Despite the name, it does not contain Guinness. The drink gets its name from the visual effect: dark coffee liqueur beneath a pale cream layer.

The drink is simple, which means the coffee liqueur matters. A better coffee liqueur gives the serve more body, more coffee flavour and a cleaner finish.

Best Baby Guinness Recipe

Ingredients

  • 35ml NORSE CODE Hel Below coffee liqueur
  • 15ml Irish cream liqueur

Method

  1. Chill the coffee liqueur and Irish cream before serving.
  2. Pour NORSE CODE Hel Below into a shot glass.
  3. Slowly layer the Irish cream over the back of a spoon.
  4. Serve immediately.

For the cleanest layer, pour slowly and use a chilled glass. Hel Below's rounded body helps create a more stable base for the cream layer.

Want everything you need for the perfect Baby Guinness? Our Award-Winning Baby Guinness Bundle pairs NORSE CODE Hel Below with Coole Swan Irish Cream for a premium home serve.

Why Hel Below Works So Well in Baby Guinness

  • Richer texture: Hel Below is designed for layered serves, giving the shot more body.
  • Real coffee flavour: Cold-Filter Brew coffee gives depth instead of artificial coffee sweetness.
  • Balanced sweetness: Smooth enough for shots, but not as heavy or cloying as many mainstream coffee liqueurs.
  • 16% ABV: Ideal for Baby Guinness, after-dinner drinks and lower-strength cocktail serves.
  • Award-winning quality: Country Winner for England at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards.
  • Yorkshire production: Made by Coffee Spirit Co using speciality coffee expertise.

Learn about the Cold-Filter Brew method

Learn more about Coffee Spirit Co

Hel Below vs Standard Coffee Liqueurs for Baby Guinness

Feature NORSE CODE Hel Below Typical Coffee Liqueur
Coffee base Cold-Filter Brew real coffee Often flavouring, extract or concentrate
Best use Baby Guinness, layered shots and richer coffee cocktails General mixed drinks
Texture Rounded and smooth Often thinner or syrup-heavy
Made in Yorkshire, UK Often large-scale international production
Recognition World Liqueur Awards Country Winner for England Varies by brand

Can You Use Kahlúa or Tia Maria in a Baby Guinness?

Yes, Kahlúa and Tia Maria are commonly used in Baby Guinness shots. However, if you want a British coffee liqueur with more connection to real coffee, Hel Below offers a Yorkshire-made alternative designed specifically for layered coffee serves.

For bars looking to improve their Baby Guinness serve, switching the coffee liqueur is one of the easiest upgrades. The drink is simple, so the flavour and texture of the coffee liqueur matters.

Read our Kahlúa Alternative UK guide

Read our Mr Black Alternative UK guide

Best Irish Cream for Baby Guinness

Most Irish cream liqueurs will work in a Baby Guinness, provided they are chilled and poured carefully. For a premium serve, choose a cream liqueur with enough weight to float cleanly and enough dairy richness to balance the coffee base.

For a high-end Baby Guinness, pair NORSE CODE Hel Below with a quality Irish cream such as Coole Swan, Five Farms or Baileys, depending on the venue and price point.

Shop the Hel Below & Coole Swan Baby Guinness Bundle

Baby Guinness for Bars and Events

Baby Guinness shots are fast to serve, visually recognisable and popular with groups. For bars, pubs, restaurants and events, they can be a strong-margin after-dinner serve when built with the right coffee liqueur.

NORSE CODE Hel Below is available in both 70cl bottles and 4.9 litre trade tubs, making it suitable for busy venues that want consistency, speed and reduced glass waste.

View Hel Below 4.9 litre trade tub

Contact us for trade enquiries

Why Bars Choose NORSE CODE Hel Below

  • Made in Yorkshire.
  • Cold-Filter Brewed with real coffee.
  • Created for Baby Guinness, Espresso Martinis and layered serves.
  • Available in 70cl bottles and 4.9 litre trade tubs.
  • Gold Medal winner at the Global Liqueur Masters.
  • Country Winner for England at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards.
  • Developed through competition coffee expertise.

Read about England's Best Coffee Liqueur

Read why only two people know the NORSE CODE recipe

Buy the Best Coffee Liqueur for Baby Guinness

If you want to make a better Baby Guinness, start with a better coffee liqueur. NORSE CODE Hel Below gives the serve real coffee character, smoother texture and award-winning quality.

Shop NORSE CODE Hel Below coffee liqueur

Shop the Award-Winning Baby Guinness Bundle

View Hel Below 4.9 litre trade tub

For Espresso Martinis and stronger coffee cocktails, explore NORSE CODE Hel Above.

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FAQs

What is the best coffee liqueur for Baby Guinness?

NORSE CODE Hel Below is designed for Baby Guinness shots, layered coffee cocktails and richer after-dinner serves. It has the body, sweetness and coffee depth needed for a better Baby Guinness.

What ingredients are in a Baby Guinness?

A Baby Guinness is usually made with coffee liqueur and Irish cream. The coffee liqueur forms the dark base, while the Irish cream is floated on top to look like the head of a tiny pint of Guinness.

Does Baby Guinness contain Guinness?

No. A Baby Guinness does not usually contain Guinness. It is named after its appearance, not its ingredients.

Can you make Baby Guinness with Kahlúa?

Yes, Kahlúa is commonly used in Baby Guinness shots. However, Hel Below offers a British, cold-filter brewed alternative with real coffee character and award-winning recognition.

Which NORSE CODE liqueur should I use for Baby Guinness?

Use NORSE CODE Hel Below for Baby Guinness. It is the richer 16% ABV expression and was created specifically for layered serves and smoother coffee cocktails.

Can Hel Below also be used in Espresso Martinis?

Yes. Hel Below creates a richer, smoother Espresso Martini with a more indulgent profile. For a stronger, brighter Espresso Martini, use NORSE CODE Hel Above.

Can I buy a Baby Guinness bundle?

Yes. The NORSE CODE Baby Guinness Bundle pairs Hel Below with Coole Swan Irish Cream, giving you the two key ingredients for a premium Baby Guinness serve at home.

Can bars buy NORSE CODE Hel Below in bulk?

Yes. NORSE CODE Hel Below is available in 70cl bottles and 4.9 litre trade tubs for bars, restaurants, hotels and hospitality venues.
Yorkshire Made

THE COFFEE SPIRIT COMPANY

Born from the fusion of coffee and vodka, the Coffee Spirit Company was established in Yorkshire with a single mission: to craft coffee liqueur to impeccable standards.

Driven by a passion for premium, artisanal coffee and meticulously balanced spirits, Gordon and Yan bring decades of expertise at the very pinnacle of their crafts. Over more than 30 years, they’ve competed globally against the industry’s best, earning numerous prestigious accolades along the way.

This unrivalled mastery and shared dedication to quality has led to a natural and inevitable collaboration, delivering coffee liqueurs that are bold, refined, and distinctly Yorkshire.

Gordon Howell Coffee Brewing

COFFEE PEDIGREE

Our journey begins with Gordon Howell, legendary brewmaster and head of coffee at Norse Code. Gordon has represented the UK in global coffee competitions, including 2015 WBrC (7th place) and 2013 WCIGS (3rd place), and has served as a sensory judge for the UKBC (2013 & 2014) and UK CIGS (2014 & 2015).

For over a decade, he was an SCA-accredited trainer, teaching barista skills and brewing mastery. Today, he focuses on one-to-one mentoring, helping coffee professionals gain intermediate and professional accreditation. His expertise spans daily coffee shop operations, competition judging, and advanced brewing techniques.

Gordon also contributes to World Coffee Events, has been a Dalla Corte Pro, and co-founded Tone Brewing Equipment, innovating in coffee technology worldwide. Every Norse Code product benefits from his precision, experience, and unparalleled skill.

Coffee and hospitality

THE DRINKS INDUSTRY

Over the past decade, Yan has shaped the UK craft beer and hospitality sector. He has pioneered award-winning venues like The Euston Tap, introduced first pours from breweries such as Stone, Thornbridge, Odell, Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head, and Cantillon, and collaborated with emerging brands like BrewDog, Camden, Beavertown, and Magic Rock.

He has also worked on distribution for Sipsmith in the north, developed bespoke beverages distribution for iconic bands like Madness and Spandau Ballet, and introduced exclusive imports to the UK. Yan’s expertise ensures Norse Code is built on innovation, quality, and deep industry insight, supporting both trade and consumer excellence.

Dave CIGS award Yorkshire

DANELAW, ROASTING & OUR BEANS

Thanks to Dave Jameson, founder of Dane Law Coffee Roasters in Holmfirth, Yorkshire, we only use speciality-grade beans with full traceability.

Hel Above and Below Coffee Liqueur features beans with Medium roast blend of washed and natural coffees from Latin America.

Dave’s credentials are remarkable:

  • Two-time UK Coffee in Good Spirits Champion
  • Q-Arabica Grader (licensed professional coffee taster)
  • Coach of the 2017 World Coffee in Good Spirits Champion
  • Judge at the World Barista Championship and master of ceremonies for coffee events across Europe
  • World Coffee Events AllStar, with experience spanning five continents
  • Responsible for coffees that have won over 50 Great Taste Award stars

Every bottle of Norse Code coffee liqueur reflects this expert craftsmanship and dedication to flavour.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0727/7969/4344/files/1000070053.jpg?v=1748370664

WHY THE HEL?

In Norse mythology, Hel is the goddess of the underworld, balancing life and death. Her story intertwines with the history of modern-day York, founded on the Viking settlement of Jorvik. Archaeology, folklore, and city heritage still reflect her influence.

Adding another layer of resonance, our coffee is crafted on the former site of Erik Bloodaxe’s palace in York, blending ancient myth and local history with modern craftsmanship. Every sip of Hel’s Coffee Liqueur is a journey through legend, heritage, and exceptional flavour.