Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with a spirited twist. Across the country, small spirits producers are inspiring new ways to enjoy summer’s sweetest tradition; infusing scoops, shakes, and more with the character of craft spirits.
Here are eight cocktail recipes to inspire your own tasting room special this month.
Craic A Gotto by Headframe Distillery
Ingredients
- Pint of vanilla ice cream
- 2 oz. Wake Up Jim
- 2 oz. freshly brewed espresso
The Build
Use an ice cream scooper to add 2 scoops of ice cream to a serving bowl or glass. Add 1-2 oz Wake Up Jim. Pour over 2 shots of hot espresso or strong brewed coffee and serve right away.
The 10th Mountain Avalanche
Ingredients
- 3 large scoops premium vanilla bean ice cream (or use chocolate for a richer flavor profile)
- 1.5 oz 10th Mountain Bourbon
- 0.75 oz 10th Mountain Alpenglow Cordial
- 2 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream (just enough to help it blend)
- The “Flurry” Garnish: Fresh whipped cream, a drizzle of high-quality dark chocolate or caramel syrup, and a dusting of shaved dark chocolate and cinnamon.
The Build
1. Chill the Glass (Optional but recommended): Pop your milkshake glass into the freezer for 5 minutes before you start. Keeping everything ice-cold prevents the alcohol from melting the shake too quickly.
2. Load the Blender (Liquids first): Pour the 10th Mountain Bourbon, Alpenglow cordial, and milk into the bottom of the blender. Adding the liquids first keeps the ice cream from getting trapped under the blades.
3. Add the Ice Cream: Add your 3 large scoops of ice cream directly on top of the spirits.
4. Blend on Low (Pulse to texture): Pulse on low speed for 10 to 15 seconds. You want it thick and smooth. Over-blending with alcohol can cause the shake to turn thin and runny very quickly. If it’s too thick, add a splash more milk; if it’s too thin, toss in another half scoop of ice cream.
5. Garnish and Serve Immediately: Pour into your chilled glass. Top with a generous amount of whipped cream, your choice of drizzle, and a light dusting of cinnamon and chocolate shavings to complement the herbal, warm notes of the Alpenglow.
Adult Root Beer Float Featuring Sugarlands Moonshines
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Sugarlands Root Beer Moonshine
- 1 oz. Sugarlands Butterscotch Gold Moonshine
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 4 oz. Root beer
- 1 cup of ice
- Whipped cream
The Build
Combine ingredients in a blender. Pour into a chilled glass, then top with whipped cream.
Sundae Best “Cocktail Style” With Bardenay
Ingredients:
- 2 oz rich, high-cream chocolate milk
- 1.5 oz Bardenay Banana Liqueur
- 1 oz Bardenay Rye Whiskey
- Maldon Smoked Sea Salt, for rim
- Crushed or pebble ice
The Build:
If possible, place a whiskey or rocks glass in the freezer for a minimum of 15 minutes before use. As you pull it out of the freezer, the condensation provides moisture to apply rimmer (or lightly wet the rim of the glass). Rim the glass with smoked sea salt and fill with crushed or pebble ice. Combine the chocolate milk, Banana Liqueur, and Rye Whiskey in a shaker with ice. Shake hard and strain into the prepared glass. Enjoy!
The R & B Foster by Song Dog Distillery
Ingredients:
- 1 Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1 oz Song Dog’s Laughing Fox Coffee Liqueur
- 1 oz Song Dog Straight Rye Whiskey
- 2 oz Banana Foster Syrup*
The Build:
In a shaker with ice, combine all ingredients. Shake hard and strain into a chilled coupe with a chocolate sauce rim. Garnish with banana flambé slices.
*Banana Foster Syrup:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 sliced banana
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Pinch of salt
Heat gently and stir until sugar is dissolved completely. Strain using gravity only; do not crush the banana so the syrup is cloud-free.
Hoot + Howl’s Saint Grasshopper
Ingredients:
- 1oz St. Alpin
- .5oz crème de cacao
- .25oz crème de menthe
- 1.5 scoops of vanilla ice cream
- Garnish with shaved chocolate
The Build:
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Pour into a chilled coupe. Enjoy.
The Oranges Featuring Dismal Harmony Distillery
Ingredients:
- 1 egg white
- .5 oz vanilla syrup
- .75 oz lemon
- .75 oz OJ
- .75 oz blood orange juice
- .5 oz Libertasse Triple Sec
- 1.5 oz DHD Vodka
The Build:
Add egg white, syrup, lemon, orange, blood orange, Libertasse, and Vodka to a shaker tin. Dry shake for 6-8 seconds. Add ice and shake vigorously for 8-10 seconds. Fine strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a dehydrated orange. Enjoy this nod to a classic orange creamsicle!
Midsummer’s Dreams: Beaver Pond Slushes
Ingredients:
- 1.5 eau de vie (peach or pear)
- .75 triple sec
- .75 lemon basil simple syrup
- .75 fresh lime juice
- approx 2-3 cups crushed ice
The Build:
Skip the cream! Combine all ingredients in a blender. Serve immediately to cool down with a flavorful walk in the garden of summer’s citrus Eden, plus your favorite stone fruit.