Wine Time
By Nikki Myers
As I write these articles for you fine folks, it’s typically a quiet(ish) morning at home: sun peeking through the blinds, dog at my feet, and a hot cup of coffee beside my laptop as I decide what to ramble on about this week. I breathe in the steam wisping out of my favorite mug and consider the options, but by now, the decision seems clear: coffee cocktails.
Most of us have coyly poured a splash of Irish cream into our cup of Joe at one point or another, but the options extend so far beyond Bailey’s. Here are two recipes to amp up your next brunch (or any occasion that calls for a caffeinated, cozy, boozy imbibement).
Breakfast of Champions: Coffee cocktails don’t need to be served hot; this one shows that iced coffee is the perfect base for some day-off upgrades. Not too sweet, but packed with flavor (and we won’t tell if you want to drink this one before lunchtime).
1 oz Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka
½ oz Allen’s Butterscotch Schnapps
½ oz Carolan’s Irish Cream
Your favorite cold brew coffee
Shake vodka, schnapps, and Irish cream vigorously (it’ll come out nice and frothy if you shake it well, but if you don’t have a shaker, this one is just as yummy stirred!). Pour over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Top with 2-4 ounces of your favorite cold brew coffee, to taste. Stir gently, and enjoy!
Dark Side of the Moon: This is a chocolate-lovers cocktail almost more so than a coffee-lover’s – rich liqueur and cream combine to make this the perfect after-dinner sipper on a chilly night. Go ahead, be generous with the chocolate syrup – you deserve it.
1 oz. Dorda Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz. light cream
2 oz. strong coffee (or espresso if you’re fancy!)
Chocolate syrup
Cinnamon
Drizzle the inside of a glass or mug with chocolate syrup. Combine all ingredients in a separate glass, stir, then pour gently into your prepared syrupy mug. Dust with a pinch of cinnamon and sip while it’s warm.
There are so many ways to dress up or adapt these cocktails, and I’m all ears if you find a favorite you’d like to share! Get your favorite jammies on, enjoy one or both of these recipes, and let me know your thoughts. My email is always open (nmyers@passionvines.com), and you can find all of the listed ingredients for delivery or curbside pickup at passionvines.com. Cheers!
