Tag Archives: Half & Half

Fun Girly Drinks for Girls Night

Posted on May 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

Blonde Bombshell Cocktail – photo and recipe by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

An evening out with best girlfriends is also the best time to road test fun girly drinks. No one judges a group of women gathered around laughing, having a good time. The only thing onlookers want to know is “what are they drinking” and “can I get a drink like that?” After all, many people are looking for fun drinks to try; they just don’t know where to look. I say, look to the nearest group of women enjoying a Girls Night Out.

Girls Night Out cocktails usually have a few things in common; sprinkles, sugared rims, pink hues, fruity flavors and blended to the max. Oh, and chocolate! One must never forget chocolate. Let’s face it; cocktails with these descriptors would not exist if people didn’t order them. Not only do people order and love them, people swipe the inside of cocktail glasses with their fingers and lick them with their tongues to get every tasty drop. So drinks of this nature, girly drinks, should not be looked upon with disdain. Girly drinks are like the candy aisle, cookie aisle, feel good aisle of cocktails. If these are the cocktails that make a group of women smile, laugh and feel good at the end of an evening then I want one of those! What the heck, make it two!

By the way, women aren’t the only ones drinking girly drinks. Real men like Cosmos, Appletinis and blended drinks, too. No more cocktail discrimination, please!

Fun Girly Drinks Night “Mixer”

Girls Night Out might include a round of shots, a cocktail or two and in the right bar, a smooth sailing blended drink. But Girls Night is also gathering your best girlfriends for a night in. Consider making your next Girls Night a literal “mixer” kind of get-together. Everyone brings a simple drink recipe with ingredients to make it. Share the recipes, sample the drinks and then start playing with the leftover ingredients. Create a few new fun girly drinks unique to your group of friends.

I’ve taken a few ingredients that often find their way into popular drink recipes. These are inexpensive liquors that are commonly found in almost any bare bones liquor store. Using an easy shot recipe as a starting point, I’ve adjusted the measurements to create three separate drinks; a cool layered shot, deliciously sweetened cocktail and sinfully decadent dessert style blender drink. All are fun drinks to try at your next Girls Night.

Easy & Fun Girly Drinks

Blonde Bombshell Layered Shot – photo and recipe by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

Blonde Bombshell Layered Shot – recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

1/2 ounce Amaretto Liqueur

1/2 ounce Butterscotch Schnapps

1/2 ounce Irish Cream Liqueur – chilled

Combine amaretto liqueur and butterscotch schnapps in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Pour into shot glass. Carefully pour chilled Irish cream liqueur over back of bar spoon over top of liqueurs to created creamy layer on top of shot.

Layered shots take a steady hand and a little extra time with the pour. – photo by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

Layered shots are really cool to look at, but feel free to place all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake it to chill and strain into the shot glass. It will taste just fine.

Blonde Bombshell Cocktail – photo and recipe by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

Blonde Bombshell Cocktail – recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

1-1/2 ounce Irish Cream Liqueur

1-1/2 ounce Butterscotch Schnapps

1 ounce Amaretto

1 ounce Half & Half

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini glass.

This is smooth, creamy and delicious. It’s like sipping on a melty ice cream cone. Which of course made me think of Ice Cream!

Blended Blonde Bombshell – recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

1-1/2 ounce Irish Cream Liqueur

1-1/2 ounce Butterscotch Schnapps

1 ounce Amaretto

1 ounce Heavy Cream

2 scoops Vanilla ice Cream

Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Add an extra scoop of ice cream for thicker shake like consistency if desired. Pour into hurricane style glass. Serve with straw and cocktail umbrella. Cocktail umbrellas and fru fru things are a must sometimes you know.

In the event you host a Girls Night mixer style get-together, please be sure everyone has a safe ride home.

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Posted in Cocktails, Frozen, Shots

Tagged Amaretto, Blonde Bombshell, Butterscotch Schnapps, Girl's Night Out, Girly Drinks, Half & Half, Heavy Cream, Ice Cream, Irish Cream, Shot-tails

Oatmeal Cookie Day Cocktail & Shots

Posted on April 30, 2013 | Leave a comment

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie 024 photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

March 18 is National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day, sometimes identified with National Oatmeal Cookie Day which is actually April 30. The difference between the two; a lacy oatmeal cookie is delicate, wafer thin and crispy while the oatmeal cookie is a drop cookie that is chewy, chunky and usually full of nuts, spices and some sort of chewy dried fruit such as raisins. Regardless of which style of cookie you prefer, I offer a toast in honor of the day.

Days that celebrate oatmeal and the oatmeal cookie – National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day, March 18 – National Oatmeal Cookie Day - April 30, National Oatmeal Day - October 29

Oh, and I made real cookies, too! [Date Night Oatmeal Cookies] They are one of my favorites after all.

Much like a spiced up oatmeal cookie, this little shot contains lots of spicy cinnamon flavor with delicious creamy texture.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

1/4 ounce Jager Herbal Liqueur

1/4 ounce Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps

1/4 ounce Rum

1/4 ounce Coffee Liqueur

1/4 ounce Irish Cream

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass.

How sweet (and buttery) it is! This oatmeal cookie could get dangerous real fast. It’s like a buttery cookie, less spicy and a bit sweeter than the version above and yes… Very Good!

Oatmeal Cookie Shot

1/4 ounce Jager Herbal Liqueur

1/4 ounce Cinnamon Schnapps

1/4 ounce Butterscotch Schnapps

1/4 ounce Irish Cream

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass.

The Oatmeal Cookie Shot was so delicious I thought it a shame to sip it so quickly. A lengthier sipping time should be enjoyed.

Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail – adapted by Cheri Loughlin

3/4 ounce Jager Herbal Liqueur Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail 088 photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

1/2 ounce Butterscotch Liqueur

1/2 ounce Irish Cream

1-1/2 ounce Half & Half

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini glass.

More variations on the Oatmeal Cookie include the Batch of Oatmeal Cookies. Why make cookies if you don’t intend to share. This recipe makes 6 shooters of approximately 2 ounces each or 12 shots of 1 ounce each after mixture has been shaken over ice.

Batch of Oatmeal Cookies

4 ounces Cinnamon Schnapps

4 ounces Irish Cream

1 ounce Coffee Liqueur

1 ounce Hazelnut Liqueur

1 ounce Heavy Cream

Combine liquids in large cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into multiple shooter or shot glasses.

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Posted in Cocktails, Shots

Tagged Batch of Oatmeal Cookies, Butterscotch Schnapps, Cinnamon Schnapps, Coffee Liqueur, Date Night Oatmeal Cookies, Goldschlager, Half & Half, Hazelnut Liqueur, Heavy Cream, Irish Cream, Jagermeister, National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day, National Oatmeal Cookie Day, National Oatmeal Day, Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail, Oatmeal Cookie Shot, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, Rum, Shot-tails

Peanut Butter & Jelly Shot & Cocktail

Posted on April 2, 2013 | Comments Off

Interesting to note, the average child consumes 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before reaching graduation. There doesn’t seem to be a statistic surrounding the consumption of Peanut Butter and Jelly shots, but there should be one. Perhaps there should also be a statistic for the number of shots consumed before the average person finishes college. Then again, maybe not.

The PB&J shot recipe (and peanut butter and jelly flavor combination) is so popular there are vodkas flavored to taste similar to the brown bag sandwich many of us grew up eating in elementary school. In fact, there are numerous shot and cocktail recipe variations to the classic Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor combination.

It’s time to put down the brown bag. Pick up the shaker and pour a snack.

April 2 is National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day

Peanut Butter & Jelly Shot – created by Cheri Loughlin

1/2 ounce Silver Rum

1/2 ounce Peanut Crème Liqueur

1/2 ounce Raspberry Liqueur

1/2 ounce Half & Half

Fresh Raspberry Garnish – optional

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass.

Cocktail Glass Recipe Variation: increase rum and liqueurs to 1 ounce each, Half & Half to 1-1/2 to 2 ounces. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

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Posted in Cocktails, Daily Holidays, Shot-tails, Shots & Shooters

Tagged Half & Half, National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day, Peanut, Peanut Rum Liqueur, Raspberries, Raspberry Liqueur, Shot-tails

Banana Cream Pie Shots

Posted on March 2, 2013 | Comments Off

Traditional banana cream pie calls for buttery graham cracker crust or flaky baked dough crust, layers of freshly sliced bananas, topped with creamy custard and fresh whipped cream or meringue. But quick fix Banana Cream Pie served in a shot glass is way more my speed. Dessert in a glass. Sipping dessert. Just the way I like it. How about you?

March 2 is National Banana Cream Pie Day

Keep in the spirit of a traditional layered Banana Cream Pie with a layered shot.

Layered Banana Cream Pie

1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur

1/2 ounce Licor 43

1/2 ounce Banana Liqueur

Layer chilled spirits in large shot glass or shooter glass. Layering can be achieved by gently pouring spirits over back of bar spoon one on top of the other. Order heaviest weighted spirits to lighter weighed spirits.

It’s always more fun to share dessert. It’s even more fun to share a shot of dessert. This Banana Cream Pie shot recipe is slightly different, shaken rather than layered and built for sharing. Party on!

Banana Cream Pie – Serves 2

1/2 ounce Banana Liqueur

1/2 ounce White Crème de Cacao

1/2 ounce Vodka

1/2 ounce Half & Half

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into two shot glasses.

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Posted in Daily Holidays, Shot-tails, Shots & Shooters

Tagged Banana Cream Pie, Banana Liqueur, Coffee Liqueur, Creme de Cacao, Half & Half, Layered Banana Cream Pie, Layered Shot, Licor 43, National Banana Cream Pie Day, Shot-tails, Vodka

Key Lime Cloud

Posted on January 7, 2013 | Comments Off

Lots of people say it is 5 o’clock somewhere. But why way until five to enjoy a delicious cocktail style drink? Key Lime Cloud makes any time sipping an option since there is no alcohol in the drink. It also creates an excellent alternative to fulfill your dessert sweet tooth.

Fluffy and light with beautiful soft lime dancing across the taste buds.

Key Lime Cloud – created by Cheri Loughlin

3/4 measure Lime Juice

1/2 measure Simple Syrup

1-1/2 measure Half & Half

Lime Twist Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake thoroughly to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lime twist.

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Posted in Mocktails

Tagged Fresh Lime, Half & Half, Key Lime Cloud, Mocktails, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Simple Syrup

5 on Friday: Halloween Cocktail Recipe Cards

Posted on October 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

Printable recipe cards are a great way to let guests know what cocktails are being served and what is in them. Place cards next to premade pitcher drinks or keep them on the bar with proper ingredients so they can make their own.

To download cocktail recipe cards; click on the card to enlarge to proper size. Right click. Save to your photo files. Personal use only please.

Cookie Monster

Devil’s Kiss

Hellfire

Red Death

Snickers

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Posted in Halloween Cocktails, Shot-tails, Shots & Shooters

Tagged Coffee Liqueur, Cookie Monster, Creme de Cacao, Devli's Kss, Five on Friday, Half & Half, Halloween, Halloween Cocktails, Hazelnut Liqueur, Hellfire, Irish Cream, Lime Cordial, Recipe Cards, Red Death, Rum, Rye, Shot-tails, Snickers, Tabasco, Triple Sec, Vodka, Whiskey

Chili Ginger Cocoa

Posted on October 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

Gentle warming spice. Rich without too much sweetness. Great for winter, fall, weekend mornings.

Chili Ginger Cocoa – created by Cheri Loughlin

1 ounce Silver Rum

1 package Hot Chocolate Mix

1 teaspoon Crushed Fresh Ginger

1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon

Pinch of Chipotle Chili Pepper

4 ounces Half & Half

4 ounces Hot Water

Whipped Cream & Cinnamon Sprinkle Garnish

Heat Half & Half and water in large measuring cup. Add ginger, cinnamon and chipotle chili pepper. Whisk gently until spices have combined thoroughly. Add hot chocolate mix to spiced mixture. Stir to dissolve. Place rum into heat proof mug. Top with spiced hot chocolate mixture. Garnish with dollop of whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles.

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Posted in Barista Cafe, Fall & Thanksgiving

Tagged Chili Ginger Cocoa, Chipotle Pepper, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Ginger, Half & Half, Hot Chocolate, Rum, Whipped Cream, Winter Warmer

Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail & Shot

Posted on July 25, 2012 | 1 Comment

The Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail; it was not just a shooter to be slammed back, barely tasted for split second indulgence. One could actually sip and savor, allow it to linger on the tongue, taste the complexities and hypothesize whether it indeed tasted like the baked oatmeal cookie treat. Time for you to decide…

Days that celebrate oatmeal and the oatmeal cookie – National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day, March 18 – National Oatmeal Cookie Day, April 30, National Oatmeal Day, October 29

Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail – adapted by Cheri Loughlin

1 measure Irish Cream

1 measure Butterscotch Schnapps

1 measure Jagermeister

1/4 measure Goldschlager

1/4 to 1/2 measure Half & Half

Dried Raisins, Cranberries or Dates Garnish.

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with skewered dried fruit.

Gold-Flaked Oatmeal Cookies

1/4 ounce Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps

1/4 ounce Hazelnut Liqueur

1/4 ounce Butterscotch Schnapps

1/4 ounce Irish Cream

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass.

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Posted in Cocktails, Shot-tails, Shots & Shooters

Tagged Butterscotch Schnapps, Cinnamon Schnapps, Gold-Flaved Oatmeal Cookies, Goldschlager, Half & Half, Hazelnut Liqueur, Irish Cream, Jagermeister, National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day, National Oatmeal Cookie Day, National Oatmeal Day, Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail, Shot-tails

Prunella’s Pina Colada

Posted on April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Incorporating tropical non-alcoholic fun into the summer sipping atmosphere is a good way to stretch the long sunny days into long summer nights.

Prunella’s Pina Colada – created by Cheri Loughlin

3 ounces Pineapple Juice

1 ounce Apricot Nectar

1-1/2 ounce Coco Lopez Coconut Cream

1 ounce Half & Half

Fresh Pineapple Garnish

Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until thoroughly combined. Strain into a tall decorative glass over ice. Garnish with skewer of pineapple or frilly umbrella.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

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Posted in Mocktails

Tagged Apricot Nectar, Coconut Cream, Half & Half, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Pina Colada, Pineapple Juice, Prunella's Pina Colada

Irish Winter

Posted on March 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day

Irish Winter

1 measure Coffee Liqueur

1 measure Half & Half

1 measure Irish Whiskey

Fresh Brewed Coffee

Whipped Cream

Shaved Chocolate – optional

Place liqueur, half & half and Irish Whiskey in heat resistant mug. Top with fresh brewed coffee. Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate curls if desired.