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Make or Buy: Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

March 30, 2019 by elana 1 Comment

Make or Buy: Coffee Liqueur // stirandstrain.comSqueeeezing in here at the end of the month (and what a month…. so glad it’s over), this might just be our easiest DIY of the bunch so far. If you can boil some water, you can make… Coffee Liqueur.

Make or Buy: Coffee Liqueur // stirandstrain.comFor today’s post, we’ll be comparing coffee liqueur made with cold brew coffee. I have seen some infusions with coffee beans, and while we’ve done something similar for cocktails around here before, since the coffee liqueur that can be bought is made with cold brew, it made sense to match apples to apples. Also, since many of these posts have some content that is repeated in the pros and cons, I’ve decided to bullet point each to make it a bit easier to read and streamlined. Let me know what you think in the comments or through social; I’m here for you.

Make or Buy: Coffee Liqueur // stirandstrain.comTo Buy: Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur (vodka base)

  • Pros:
    • Available to purchase at a liquor store near you
    • Strong coffee taste
    • Minimal ingredient list
  • Cons:
    • Only available to buy in CA, NY, the UK, and Australia
    • Flavor is singular in that you’re only getting a coffee flavor and nothing else
    • Cannot adjust sweetness level

Make or Buy: Coffee Liqueur // stirandstrain.comTo Make: Homemade Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur (aged rum base)

  • Pros:
    • Very few ingredients
    • Super easy to make for a DIY project, just make a rich simple syrup and get some cold brew coffee
    • You can adjust the flavor to your liking
    • You can adjust the sweetness level
    • Scales up or down depending on how much liqueur you’d like
  • Cons:
    • It takes a minimum of 3 days to make, plus more if you brew your own cold brew
    • Flavor may not be consistent from batch to batch
    • You have to make it

Make or Buy: Coffee Liqueur // stirandstrain.com

And how do they compare in a cocktail? When I think coffee in cocktails I immediately think of a White Russian, so that’s what I compared both in today. Mr. Black stands out with a bold coffee taste and a rich flavor profile. My home brew coffee is lighter not only in color, but also in flavor. I wanted a coffee liqueur that had layers of other flavors in it like vanilla and spice, so the base is an aged rum. This also means that the coffee is more subdued.

Notes: If you want a stronger coffee taste I would suggest using a cold brew concentrate and playing around with the flavor until it suits your preference. Also, you could switch to a vodka base and cut the vodka back to 1-1/4 cups.

Make or Buy: Coffee Liqueur // stirandstrain.com

So there you are, two choices when it comes to a coffee liqueur. Will you make it or buy it? Let us know!

Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

1-1/2 cups cold brew coffee (brew your own or buy your favorite unsweetened brand)
1 cup demerara sugar
1/2 cup water
1-1/2 cups aged rum

If brewing your own cold brew, do that at least 24 hours before starting to make the liqueur. Next, in a small saucepan, combine demerara sugar and water. Bring to a boil, whisking to combine. Turn the heat down to a simmer and continue to whisk until all the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. In a liter jar, combine cold brew coffee, syrup and rum. Seal and shake gently to combine. Let the liqueur sit for three days in a cool, dark place, agitating it every day. After three days, liqueur will be ready to consume.

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Filed Under: Make It, Make or Buy, Recipes Tagged With: coffee, coffee liqueur, demerara sugar, make it, make or buy, rum, vodka

The 2019 St. Patrick’s Day Drinking and Eating Guide

March 8, 2019 by elana 2 Comments

There’s no amateur hour around these parts.

Grab some whiskey and a blender and let’s celebrate!

Kerrygold Frozen Irish Coffee // stirandstrain.com

Frozen Irish Coffee Cocktails

Irish Coffee Jello Shots Two Ways

24 Karat Irish Coffee with Chila 'Orchata // stirandstrain.com
24 Karat Irish Coffee with Chila ‘Orchata

The Bitter Irishman

The Irish Derby Cocktail

Chocolate Whiskey Truffles

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Filed Under: Bake It, Make It, Recipes Tagged With: Chila 'Orchata, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, irish whiskey, Kerrygold Irish Cream, St. Patrick's Day, whiskey

Frozen Irish Coffee

January 23, 2019 by elana 2 Comments

Kerrygold Frozen Irish Coffee // stirandstrain.com

This post was made in partnership with Kerrygold Irish Cream. Recipe and ideas are my own.

I know. You’re thinking to yourself… “FROZEN drinks? In winter?! Has she lost her mind?!” But here’s the thing, I L-O-V-E an iced coffee. I drink them year round. And no, it’s not because I live in Southern California. I understand a frozen drink in winter can be a hard sell, especially if you’re braving below zero temps. However, I’m not asking you to drink it outdoors; I’m not that crazy. If you can eat a bowl of ice cream while watching tv at night, you can enjoy a Frozen Irish Coffee this week.

Kerrygold Frozen Irish Coffee // stirandstrain.com

Oh and guess what? It just happens to be National Irish Coffee day on Friday so there’s another excuse to pull out the blender and whip one up!

Kerrygold Frozen Irish Coffee // stirandstrain.com

Any Irish Coffee starts with, well, coffee. For this frozen version I decided on using a cold brew for a slightly sweeter taste to the overall drink. The coffee flavor is also a bit stronger too than regular brewed coffee. But to give it a more fuller coffee taste, I’ve also added in a touch of coffee liqueur. The Irish whiskey gets added in twice here. Once in straight boozy form, and the second with our whiskey-cream-chocolate bomb Kerrygold Irish Cream. The grass-fed milk used in Kerrygold adds a lovely creamy consistency to the drink while the real chocolate gives just a hint of flavor to the final drink.

Kerrygold Frozen Irish Coffee // stirandstrain.com

To round out the drink and give it some additional complexity, I’ve sweetened the coffee with a cinnamon and demerara syrup. A tiny bit of cinnamon gives some sweet and woody notes, while the rich, toasty demerara syrup heightens the coffee flavor (it’s a favorite of mine in coffee drinks).

If you’re already sipping on a hot Irish Coffee this week, then I would highly suggest that you put this recipe in your back pocket until March for that other Irish holiday that this would be totally appropriate for. You could even cover it in green sprinkles (you should definitely do that).

Kerrygold Frozen Irish Coffee // stirandstrain.com

Lastly, you folks may or may not know this already, but in my younger years I used to spin records around Los Angeles (for fun, not as my sole career). So I was thrilled when Kerrygold asked if I could provide some listening soundtracks to the drinks I’ve partnered with them to make. Now, the records (and I mean actual 45s and LPs) that I spun were from my collection of late 1950’s to early 1970’s girl group and garage. These lists will cherrypick a few from there, but I’ll also pick from a wide selection of favorites from all kinds of genres (I also did a classic country stint for about a month too!). If you give it a listen, let me know what you think! You can find all the playlists here on their Spotify page!

Kerrygold Frozen Irish Coffee // stirandstrain.com

Frozen Irish Coffee

Makes 2 drinks
12 ounces cold brew coffee
4 ounces Kerrygold Irish Cream
1 ounce coffee liqueur
2 ounces cinnamon-demerara syrup (recipe follows)
whipped cream and cinnamon, optional

  • The night before, freeze the cold brew coffee in ice cube molds. You also could make the syrup now too.
  • When ready to make the drink, in a drink or high speed blender (if using a regular blender, crack the cubes first so they don’t jam your blades!) combine the frozen coffee cubes, Kerrygold Irish Cream, coffee liqueur, and cinnamon-demerara syrup. Blend until a smooth consistency is reached.
  • Divide the drinks between two glasses. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon if using.

Cinnamon-Demerara Syrup

1 cup demerara sugar
1 cup water
3 pieces of cinnamon, 2″ in length

In a saucepan, combine the sugar and the water over medium-high heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar crystals and then add in the cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain into an airtight container and store refrigerated for up to one month.

Kerrygold Frozen Irish Coffee // stirandstrain.com

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: cinnamon, coffee, coffee liqueur, demerara sugar, frozen drinks, irish whiskey, Kerrygold Irish Cream, nationalirishcoffeeday, St. Patrick's Day

Up All Night Cocktail

December 28, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Up All Night Cocktails with Kerrygold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.comThis post was made in partnership with Kerrygold Irish Cream. Recipe and ideas are my own.

If you were to ask me about superstitions, I’d say they’re not something I believe in. Except… I’d kinda be lying. See, the thing is, some years ago I developed this superstition that how I rang in the New Year would somehow dictate how my next year would be. I took this as vague or as specific as I wanted and I find myself thinking about that now as we approach the coming new year.

Up All Night Cocktails with Kerrygold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.com

Up All Night Cocktails with Kerrygold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.comFight with a friend at a NYE party? I’m going to spend the next year having issues with this person. Fell asleep before the ball dropped? I’m going to have trouble meeting deadlines next year. Spend an amazing time with a guy I’d only just started seeing two months ago? Well, then obviously I was going to marry this guy. (All three are true by the way!)

Up All Night Cocktails with Kerrygold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.comI am a notorious early bird in my family. It’s probably the reason I went to work as a barista instead of a bartender when I first moved out to L.A. It’s part of the reason I heave a big sigh come NYE; I know I’m going to have trouble staying awake. So this year I’m doing a little pre-planning. First, I’m going to push my kids on their grandmother on the 31st and take a long afternoon nap. Next, I’ll be strategically planning my cocktail for the night. It will, of course, have coffee in it. Not just any coffee, I’m infusing some aged rum with a blend of arabica and robusta coffee. Why? Because arabica has a great flavor and robusta brings the CAFFEINE!

Up All Night Cocktails with Kerrygold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.comI teamed up with Kerrygold Irish Cream to make my perfect NYE sipping cocktail. Mainly, I wanted something reminiscent of a latte that I could enjoy over the course of the night. I’d save the champagne for the countdown toast of course, before making a swift and silent exit. Now, this pre-planning also includes making this coffee infusion; it takes two days. Alternatively, if you’ve got a coffee liqueur you’d rather sub in and save yourself this DIY project, well, then you do you.

Up All Night Cocktails with Kerrygold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.comIf this were to be my coffee order, I’d say it’s a mocha-vanilla-almond-spiced latte. But, you know, spiked. The Kerrygold Irish Cream brings a silky-rich mouthfeel from the cream and just a touch of chocolate, which is how I prefer my coffee drinks when I go the mocha route. The whiskey in there goes quite well with the aged rum and they impart a subtle spice and vanilla flavor that gets enhanced by the addition of Drambuie and a few drops of vanilla extract.

And because it’s New Year’s Eve and we’re feeling fancy, I broke out the edible gold stars for a sparkling garnish for just a hint of glitz. You definitely need a little glitz on this holiday.

Up All Night Cocktails with Kerrygold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.comLet’s get ready for that countdown and make some drinks!

Up All Night Cocktail

1-1/2 ounces coffee infused aged rum, recipe follows (or sub 1-1/4 ounces aged rum with 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur)
1/2 ounce Kerrygold Irish Cream
1/2 ounce orgeat
1/4 ounce Drambuie
3 drops vanilla extract
edible gold stars for garnish

In a shaker filled 2/3 with ice, combine coffee infused aged rum, Kerrygold Irish Cream, orgeat, Drambuie, and vanilla extract. Shake to combine about 20 seconds and strain into a double rocks glass with fresh ice. Optionally garnish with some edible gold stars, for that NYE glitz.

Up All Night Cocktails with Kerrygold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.comCoffee Infused Aged Rum

14 oz. aged rum
1/2 cup coffee beans (blend of arabica and robusta), lightly crushed

Combine ingredients in an airtight container (I reused my rum bottle). Swirl to cover the beans. Let sit for 2 days. Fine strain to catch the coffee bean bits (I like using this nut bag for these kind of jobs). Bottle. Use within two years.

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Filed Under: Make It, Recipes Tagged With: coffee, Drambuie, holiday, Kerrygold Irish Cream, make it, New Year's Eve, orgeat, rum, vanilla

P.S. Coffee Old Fashioned

September 28, 2018 by elana 1 Comment

PS Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail with Truvia // stirandstrain.com

This post was made in partnership with Truvia®. Recipes and ideas are my own.

Even though fall officially started last week, it feels like we’ve been in it for awhile now. Is it me, or is that certain pumpkin-spiced coffee drink arriving earlier and earlier each year? Now, while I LOVE all the pumpkin things, I really am not a fan of overly milky drinks (like those lattes). But I do love coffee, and it just happens to be #NationalCoffeeDay tomorrow, September 29! And what better way to marry pumpkin spice and coffee than to make a cocktail with them?!

PS Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail with Truvia // stirandstrain.comWe’ve teamed up with Truvia® to create a Pumpkin Spiced syrup to use in the base of our coffee cocktail. It’s made with less sugar than what you’d get at your local coffee shop AND it’s made with real pumpkin too. So you end up with way fewer calories than a traditional sugar syrup. The Truvia Natural Sweetener comes in a spoonable jar for ease of use in the kitchen, and ½ teaspoon of Truvia Natural Sweetener is equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar. So you don’t need to drown your cocktail in syrup to get just the right amount of sweetness in there.

PS Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail with Truvia // stirandstrain.comNow, when I say I love coffee, I mean I love it. My last thoughts before going to sleep usually involve me thinking about how good that first cup of coffee will be in the morning. And I cannot start my day until I’ve at least had one sip of that invigorating elixir. Naturally, then, I also will put coffee in my cocktails whenever possible.

PS Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail with Truvia // stirandstrain.comAn Old Fashioned cocktail is a satisfyingly simple drink, and if you’ve been on this site before, you’d know it’s also one of my favorite drinks to use as a base for a new creation. At its most basic, an Old Fashioned is just spirit, sugar and bitters, and even those elements can change into whatever you’re in the mood for. And I’m in the mood for pumpkins and coffee.

PS Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail with Truvia // stirandstrain.comThere’s a myriad of ways you can infuse coffee into cocktails but today we’re going the quick and easy way with coffee liqueur. We’ll spend our time instead on making a rich, spicy pumpkin syrup that will make your house smell AMAZING when you’re warming it on the stove. The syrup doesn’t take more than 15 minutes to make, so don’t worry, you’ll have your cocktail in no time! And what a flavor bomb! Bourbon forward but with deep coffee aroma and sweet pumpkin and spices in the finish. And don’t forget those bitters—they balance out the whole drink and prevent it from becoming too sweet.

PS Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail with Truvia // stirandstrain.com

P.S. Coffee Old Fashioned

2 ounces bourbon
1/2 ounce coffee liqueur
1/4 ounce Truvia pumpkin spice syrup (recipe follows)
2 dashes aromatic bitters
orange zest and cinnamon stick

In a mixing glass filled 2/3 with ice, pour in bourbon, coffee liqueur, pumpkin spice syrup, and bitters. Stir 20 seconds and strain over a large ice cube into a rocks glass. Garnish with orange zest and cinnamon stick.

PS Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail with Truvia // stirandstrain.com

Truvia Pumpkin Spice Syrup

1 cup Truvia Natural Sweetener
1 cup water
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

In a medium sized saucepan over medium-high heat, combine Truvia Natural Sweetener and water, stirring constantly until Truvia is dissolved. Add in pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and ground ginger. Stir until everything is well combined. Let simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit five minutes. Strain through cheesecloth over a strainer or use a nut milk bag (this one is my fav!). Syrup will keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to two weeks.

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Filed Under: Make It, Recipes Tagged With: aromatic bitters, bourbon, coffee, coffee liqueur, Fall, make it, nationalcoffeeday, PSL, pumpkin, Truvia, whiskey

Cold Brew Coffee and Kerrygold Buttercream Whoopie Pies

September 12, 2018 by elana 2 Comments

Dessert Cocktails with Kerry Gold Irish Cream // stirandstrain.comThis post was made in partnership with Kerrygold Irish Cream. Recipe and ideas are my own.

Growing up, any rich, chocolate cake that sandwiched a generous helping of frosting was a favorite of mine. Candy I could take or leave, but cake sandwiches… OH YES PLEASE. Now I get to make an adult version with Kerrygold Irish Cream laced buttercream and for extra pep: cold brew coffee cake. Whoopie Pies should not just be for kids, which is why I make my grown up versions ginormous; then you can catch a little bit of nostalgia with every bite.

Kerrygold Irish Cream & Cold Brew Whoopie Pies

Cakes (makes 5 cakes):
1/2 lb. butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cocoa, dutch-processed
10 ounces all purpose flour
1/2 cup cold brew coffee
1/2 cup milk

Filling (this filling can be doubled if you want extra filling):
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/2 pound powdered sugar
2-1/2 tablespoons Kerrygold Irish Cream

To make:
Prepare the frosting by creaming together the butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Pour in the Kerrygold Irish Cream until incorporated. Filling can be kept refrigerated in a sealed container up to four days.

Next, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cakes by creaming the sugar and butter together until smooth. Add in the egg and mix until incorporated. Next add in baking powder, baking soda, salt and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Sift in cocoa powder and mix until combined. Mix in 1/2 of flour and the cold brew, and then mix in second half of flour and the milk. Stir until just combined. Scoop out a 1/4 cup of mixture onto a sheet pan covered in parchment. You can fit 5 scoops on each sheet pan. Bake 16-18 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Cool on sheet pan and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Store in an air tight container until ready to use.

To assemble, spread filling on flat side of one half of the cakes. Top with second half of cake. Eat. Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Bake It, Recipes Tagged With: bake it, chocolate, coffee, dessert, homemade gifts, Kerrygold Irish Cream, St. Patrick's Day, summer

Bar Cart Styling: From Coffee to Cocktails

April 11, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

It’s like one of those day to night outfits, except with a bar cart.

Bar Cart Styling: From Coffee to Cocktails, a day to night transformation // stirandstrain.com

Earlier this year I saw the alarming trend that cocktail bar carts were going away! And instead, coffee carts were going to be the next big thing. Well, we’re all not about to throw away a $600 cart we bought just to get another cart and then have that trend flop on its face. If you’re on the fence about purchasing a cart, well, maybe this will inspire you! You can have it both ways by dressing your cart up for breakfast AND happy hour. Let me show you how your bar cart can do double duty as it transforms from coffee to cocktails.

  • Utilize items that work for both coffee and cocktails: sugar cubes, spoons, containers, napkins, straws, etc…
  • A french press will make a great cup of coffee AND you can use it to infuse flavors into booze.
  • Double duty glasses for water and cocktails.
  • Coffee and tonic is still a trend so keep a few bottles out for morning and then later for G&Ts.
  • Have a house cocktail and keep just those items stocked on the cart.
  • Flowers! Decorate with edible flowers like pansies or nasturtiums and your cart will look pretty all day, and your drinks will look pretty all night.
  • Keep the whiskey, rum, liqueur, etc… out. Who says you can’t have coffee and cocktails?!

1. Edible Flowers 2. Canister 3. French Press 4. Ceramic and Wood Glasses 5. Leaf Napkins 6. Sugar Cubes 7. Bar (Coffee) Cart 8. Glasses 9. Containers 10. Tonic 11. Decanter 12. Gold Straws 13. Bitters 14. Bar Spoon

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar cart, bar tools, coffee, gift guide, gifts, home bar

24 Karat Irish Coffee whiskey - Chila 'Orchata - spiced coffee - coconut cream - gold

March 8, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

24 Karat Irish Coffee with Chila 'Orchata // stirandstrain.comThis post was made in partnership with Chila ‘Orchata. Recipe and ideas are my own.

Next week is St. Patrick’s Day, and while some of you out there might be stockpiling green food coloring and cheap beer, I implore you, back away from that green squeeze bottle and pick up… a coffee.

24 Karat Irish Coffee with Chila 'Orchata // stirandstrain.comNow there might be some purists out there who like their Irish Coffee in the straight, no nonsense way: Irish whiskey, coffee, cream. And that’s all good and fine, but I did not create this website to just stick to the classics. So, for those of you looking for a way to make an Irish Coffee even better (yes, I am saying I like my version better), then let’s talk about how to do just that.

24 Karat Irish Coffee with Chila 'Orchata // stirandstrain.comI’ll just say that we’re going to leave the Irish whiskey where it is; you really don’t need to change that part. But now here’s the fun parts: Chila ‘Orchata and spiced coffee syrup. Today we’re teaming up with Chila ‘Orchata, the most delicious blend of Puerto Rican rum, real dairy cream, Tahitian vanilla, and cinnamon, to make an iced version of this classic drink. Why iced? Because I drink about 3 cups of iced coffee a day and prefer that over hot. Also, I get to make more yummy coffee syrup this week and change it up by adding some warm spices to it. Playing off of the vanilla and cinnamon in the Chila ‘Orchata, I’m adding some additional cinnamon and star anise to the coffee syrup; it’ll be a warm spice bomb to the chilled booze.

24 Karat Irish Coffee with Chila 'Orchata // stirandstrain.comAnd while you could definitely top yours off with plain old whipped cream, I’m going the coconut cream route with just a touch of sweetness from maple syrup. You can actually pick up coconut whipped cream at the grocery store now, but if you have a can of coconut cream at home and a whipper, I’m including how to make it in the notes below. The coconut cream pairs really well with the cinnamon and spices, and I prefer mine barely sweetened to offset the sweetness in the drink (another plus to making your own coconut whipped cream is the ability to control the sugar going into it).

Because it’s not St. Patrick’s Day without a little gold, I’m garnishing the whole thing with edible gold leaf. It maaaay be too pretty to drink, but I’ll try anyway. And I hope you do too! Cheers!

24 Karat Irish Coffee with Chila 'Orchata // stirandstrain.com24 Karat Irish Whiskey

2 ounces Irish whiskey
1 ounce Chila ‘Orchata
1 ounce spiced coffee syrup, see recipe below
1 shot espresso, chilled (optional, see note below)
whipped coconut cream (see note below)
edible gold leaf

In a shaker 2/3 filled with ice, combine the Irish whiskey, Chila ‘Orchata, spiced coffee syrup and espresso shot, if using. Shake for 20 seconds and strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Top with whipped coconut cream and a gold leaf garnish.

Spiced Coffee Syrup

½ cup strong espresso
¾ cup sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 star anise, whole

Combine espresso with sugar in a saucepan over medium high heat. Stir to dissolve sugar. Bring to almost a boil and lower to a simmer. Add cinnamon and star anise. Reduce until thickened about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, cool and refrigerate in an airtight container. Will keep up to 2 weeks.

Notes:

  • If you like your coffee bev to be even more coffee-y, you can add in an additional shot of espresso.
  • To make your own coconut whipped cream using a whip cream canister: add the solids from a can of chilled coconut cream (refrigerate the can for 3+ hours in advance) into the canister with about one tablespoon of the coconut water from the can. Then pour in 2-3 tablespoons of maple syrup to taste or leave out if you prefer unsweetened. Attach the nozzle, give a good shake to combine, and charge the canister with N2O. Store in the fridge until ready to use. Will keep for 2-3 days refrigerated. I use this whipped cream dispenser and these N2O cartridges.

For more information on Chila ‘Orchata, please visit their website at chilaorchata.com.

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Chila 'Orchata, cinnamon, coconut, coffee, gold, holiday, irish whiskey, nationalirishcoffeeday, St. Patrick's Day

Sparkling Coffee & Amaro Cocktail

August 9, 2016 by elana 1 Comment

Sparkling Coffee Cocktail with Montenegro Amaro // stirandstrain.comHey guys! We’ve been enjoying a summer break around these parts (read: preparing for termite tenting and urging my husband to dispose of years of saved New Yorker magazines). But now we’re back with you today with a cocktail AND some awesome news!

Sparkling Coffee Cocktail with Montenegro Amaro // stirandstrain.comFirst up, the awesome news.

Stir and Strain is a finalist AGAIN this year for Saveur’s Best Blog awards in the Drinks Coverage category. We are now up against some beer and wine folks and not just cocktails. Third time’s a charm? Or always a bridesmaid never a bride? We’ll see in September. For now, if you want to vote for Stir and Strain to win, you can do that today (and actually, they are allowing you to do that every day until August 31st. But I won’t pressure you guys either way.).

Sparkling Coffee Cocktail with Montenegro Amaro // stirandstrain.comAnd now here’s a cocktail.

I’ve been digging Montenegro Amaro for a few months now, but mainly just as a digestif. It’s not new–it’s been around since 1885, but it was new to my line up this year and I couldn’t be happier. Looking for a new way to enjoy this but still keeping it at a low ABV, I thought about that kooky combination of cold brew coffee and tonic water I heard about last year. I don’t keep up with coffee trends, but I do enjoy putting coffee    into my    cocktails.

Sparkling Coffee Cocktail with Montenegro Amaro // stirandstrain.comSo I decided to pair Montenegro, with its super flavorful and wonderfully bittersweet taste, with a robust coffee and slightly bitter tonic. I finished the cocktail with a touch of grapefruit oil in the garnish–don’t skip that folks, it makes the drink with a light floral aroma. It’s hard to nail down exactly all the flavors you get with Montenegro, but there’s citrus and dried cherry and gentian root and just a lot of herbal notes. It provides enough sweetness along with the tonic water so there is no need to add any further sweetener.

Sparkling Coffee Cocktail with Montenegro Amaro // stirandstrain.comYou could have this as your digestif, or maybe a Sunday early afternoon drink. Up to your preference. I’ve been enjoying them in the late afternoon when I need a pick-me-up, but also, you know, want a little cocktail too.

Sparkling Coffee Cocktail with Montenegro Amaro // stirandstrain.com5 ounces tonic water (Fever-Tree Indian Tonic used here)
1 ounce Montenegro Amaro*
3-1/2 ounces cold brew or chilled espresso (we have a Nespresso machine at home and for this I used one Lungo capsule of their Fortissio)
grapefruit zest for garnish

  • In a collins glass, fill with ice cubes and pour in tonic water. Add in the Montenegro and coffee. Express the grapefruit oil over the drink and add the peel to the cocktail. Stir gently to combine.

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: amaro, coffee, Grapefruit, Montenegro Amaro, tonic water

Your 2016 St. Patrick’s Day Drinking and Eating Guide (from the Stir and Strain archives)

March 17, 2016 by elana Leave a Comment

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Let me help you pick out what you should be drinking and eating today. I am a 1/4 Irish after all…

Irish Coffee Jello Shots 2 ways // stirandstrain.com

Irish Coffee Jello Shots

Bitter Irishman Cocktail // stirandstrain.com

The Bitter Irishman

Anise Cream Rye-Spiked Coffee // stirandstrain.com

Anise Cream Coffee

Irish Derby Cocktail // stirandstrain.com

The Irish Derby Cocktail

Jameson Whiskey Truffles // stirandstrain.com

Irish Whiskey Truffles with Baileys Crystals

And a few Green Drinks…

Frozen Cucumber and Green Chartreuse Daiquiri Cocktail // stirandstrain.com

Frozen Cucumber and Green Chartreuse Daiquiri Cocktail

old tom's mistake cocktail

Old Tom’s Mistake

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Filed Under: Bake It, Recipes Tagged With: averna, Baileys Irish Cream, bake it, Bushmills 10 Irish Whiskey, chocolate, coffee, cucumber, drink holiday, frozen drinks, gin, Green Chartreuse, holiday, jameson, meyer lemon, rye, St. Patrick's Day, whiskey

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