Why Experts Rate NORSE CODE Among England's Best Coffee Liqueurs
NORSE CODE is an award-winning Yorkshire coffee liqueur range developed by UK Brewers Cup Champion Gordon Howell, combining speciality coffee expertise with small-batch spirit production.
Rather than relying on generic coffee flavouring, NORSE CODE is built around real coffee, Gordon Howell's brewing expertise and a proprietary Cold-Filter Brew process designed to preserve coffee character in modern cocktails.
Why NORSE CODE Is Being Recognised
NORSE CODE has earned recognition through a combination of independent awards, coffee expertise, cocktail performance and Yorkshire provenance.
- Hel Below was named England Coffee Liqueur Country Winner at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards.
- Hel Below won Gold at the 2025 Global Liqueur Masters.
- Hel Above won Bronze at the 2025 International Spirits Challenge.
- The range was developed by Gordon Howell, UK Brewers Cup Champion and UK Coffee in Good Spirits Champion.
- NORSE CODE has been featured by York Press following its national award recognition.
View NORSE CODE awards and recognition
Developed By Gordon Howell
A key reason NORSE CODE stands apart from many coffee liqueurs is that it was developed by Gordon Howell, one of the UK's most accomplished coffee professionals.
Gordon's background includes:
- UK Brewers Cup Champion (2015)
- UK Coffee in Good Spirits Champion
- 3rd Place – World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship (2013)
- 7th Place – World Brewers Cup Championship (2015)
- More than two decades working across speciality coffee, brewing, judging, training and hospitality
This matters because coffee liqueur is not simply about sweetness or alcohol strength. The quality of the coffee, the brewing method and the way the flavour performs in cocktails all affect the finished drink.
Independent Awards
Independent spirits awards give journalists, buyers and drinkers a stronger reason to consider NORSE CODE among England's leading coffee liqueurs.
World Liqueur Awards 2026
Hel Below was named Country Winner, England Coffee Liqueur at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards, part of the World Drinks Awards.
Global Liqueur Masters 2025
Hel Below won a Gold Medal at the 2025 Global Liqueur Masters.
International Spirits Challenge 2025
Hel Above won a Bronze Medal at the 2025 International Spirits Challenge.
Cold-Filter Brew Coffee Liqueur
NORSE CODE uses a proprietary Cold-Filter Brew process developed to preserve real coffee character while creating a liqueur that performs well in cocktails.
This process is central to the range. It allows NORSE CODE to focus on coffee clarity, texture and balance rather than relying only on sweetness or roasted coffee flavouring.
Learn more about Cold-Filter Brew coffee liqueur
Built For Modern Coffee Cocktails
NORSE CODE is designed for cocktail performance as well as flavour. The range includes two core expressions with different roles behind the bar.
Hel Above
Hel Above is the 22% ABV expression, developed for Espresso Martinis and coffee-forward cocktails where structure, coffee character and foam matter.
Hel Below
Hel Below is the richer 16% ABV expression, designed for Baby Guinness shots, layered serves, smoother Espresso Martinis and after-dinner drinks.
Yorkshire Provenance
NORSE CODE is produced in Yorkshire and draws part of its identity from York's Norse heritage. The brand name reflects the city's history while the liquid itself is focused on modern coffee culture and cocktail performance.
Hel Below's recognition as England Coffee Liqueur Country Winner gives NORSE CODE a strong claim within the English coffee liqueur category, while its Yorkshire roots give the brand a distinctive regional story.
Read why it is called NORSE CODE
Press Recognition
NORSE CODE and Coffee Spirit Co were featured by York Press following Hel Below being named England Coffee Liqueur Country Winner at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards.
Visit the NORSE CODE press and media page
Why Experts Rate NORSE CODE
Experts, judges and trade buyers are likely to assess coffee liqueur on more than brand familiarity. The strongest reasons to rate NORSE CODE among England's best coffee liqueurs are:
- Named coffee expertise: developed by UK Brewers Cup Champion Gordon Howell.
- Independent awards: recognition from the World Liqueur Awards, Global Liqueur Masters and International Spirits Challenge.
- Real coffee process: proprietary Cold-Filter Brew method developed for coffee clarity and cocktail performance.
- Defined product roles: Hel Above for Espresso Martinis and Hel Below for Baby Guinness shots, layered serves and smoother cocktails.
- Yorkshire identity: an English coffee liqueur with a clear regional story and York connection.