A great dessert shake with chocolate liqueur, vodka and vanilla ice ...

I love making cocktails for my Classic Cocktail series; discovering the history of a cocktail and putting together fresh and stellar ingredients to make a great reproduction of a well known cocktail brings together so many elements of my personality. Curiousity, a bit of tenacity and of course the sheer joy delivered from the creativity of a cocktail in the making. So?why have I forsaken those old standards for a plethora of seasonal spirits often marked with something less than the elegance they bring to the party? Simple?for FUN! Something about the season from Halloween through New Year?s inspires cocktails that are more emblematic of the party spirit.

In the past several weeks, apple cider and caramel vodka made for a great libation in the spirit of either Fall or Halloween; pumpkin mixed with rum and a brown sugar simple syrup conjured up a pumpkin pie so reminiscent of the fall holiday season and now this?a? cocktail I can imagine being sipped while sitting around the holiday tree; maybe singing Christmas Carols or simply enjoying a sweet libation after a nice meal ? this is most definitely what I would consider a dessert cocktail. Sweet yes, but with the bite of vodka and I loved the texture of my favorite sugar crystals rimming the luscious combination.

I?ve been asked to sample more liqueurs and spirits than I can keep up with but the truth is I?m not interested in many that are offered. Many sound fun but are pretty all inclusive, not requiring that I bring anything to the mix but ice and that would soon be a boring effort. This is not a review site; I love the craft of considering the different elements of alcoholic beverages and delicious liqueurs. I knew as soon as I was asked about my interest in the Crave Chocolate Mint Liqueur that I would have to make something for the winter holidays?the weather outside might be frightful but something about mint brings just a bit of warmth to the mix?and adding vodka doesn?t hurt either!

I thought it only appropriate that I actually taste this liqueur straight?did you hear me yell, ?Help, somebody STOP me!?? While I can appreciate a great vermouth or the nuances of bitters in a cocktail, sometimes there is just a yum factor that can?t be denied and this liqueur definitely has that. Mocha and Semi Sweet Chocolate swirl on the tongue; with the sweet mint offering a nice cooling sensation. A very light mouth feel?something I find most welcome for an after dinner liqueur. Super yum (what, not sophisticated enough?sorry, it?s been a very long day). There are also Crave liqueurs in Chocolate Cherry and Chocolate Chili?I should have asked for some of those too huh? Now I?m dying to try them! Chocolate CHILI!! Oh yes.

I will often invite my family or neighbors over to ?assist? with the results and their feedback is always helpful. This time I made two cocktails that I was going to be forced to drink myself (OH NO!!) when my daughter dropped by. She can attest to how delightful this was?no matter how frightful the weather!

The Crave Liqueur would be great alone over ice but this was special. Try it. You?ll like it.

Chocolate Mint Liqueur, Vodka and Vanilla Ice Cream Shake

A great dessert shake with chocolate liqueur, vodka and vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

• 3 oz Crave Chocolate Liqueur
• 4 oz vanilla ice cream
• 4 oz vodka
• 1/2 cup of ice
• sugar for rimming

Preparation

1. Dip the edge of the glasses into a small amount of the liqueur poured onto a saucer.
2. Dip rim into sugar.
3. Mix the chocolate liqueur, vanilla ice cream, vodka and ice in a blender and blend until smooth.
4. Divide the shake between the 2 glasses and add a short straw.

2.0

http://www.creative-culinary.com/2012/11/chocolate-mint-liqueur-vodka-and-vanilla-ice-cream-shake/

This recipe brought to you by ? Creative Culinary | A Food and Cocktail Blog | Website: www.creative-culinary.com

Source: http://www.creative-culinary.com/2012/11/chocolate-mint-liqueur-vodka-and-vanilla-ice-cream-shake/

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