One of the best things about owning a restaurant is getting to try out all sorts of new food and drink recipes "for the good of the company". Every now and again I stumble into inspiration for a new recipe for Caliente. Usually it is a salsa or sauce I think would be interesting to try with our food. Sometimes it's a different way to cook our braised pork or a new option of veggies to add to the menu. This time it was a trip to the liquor store that sparked my creative culinary juices.
Last year during the holiday season Kahlua released some seasonal flavors of their coffee liqueur. One of the flavors was Peppermint Mocha. Sounds delicious. I can tell you that it is, in fact, delicious. So, as a Christmas "happy" I bought my girlfriend a bottle so that we could make festive White Russians, her favorite cocktail. This new twist seemed to be something right up her alley and we were both very excited to make a White Russian with this new flavor of Kahlua. Well, the drinks we made were indeed delicious, but we thought it lacked a little something. It didn't seem "Christmas-y" enough. Instead, it was just a tiny bit different from a regular ole White Russian. After a few cocktails and some thought, we realized what was missing. You see, the thing about peppermint is that it is both minty and sweet, and the Kahlua just didn't add enough sweetness.
That's when the inspiration came to me. I wanted a for-real "Christmas-tasting" drink and was determined to make one. I decided to play around with peppermint schnapps as an addition to the traditional White Russian recipe. This got me half way there. Since the White Russian is already a drink that reminds me of a dessert, I thought it would be a nice addition to add a little sweetness. That's when I decided to use vanilla flavored vodka. That did the trick! The perfect balance of sweet, creamy and minty! A perfect cold-weather drink to enjoy with friends and family after a big Christmas dinner. So, from me to you, cheers to a happy holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year.
"Christmas-Tasting" Peppermint White Russians:
1 part Vanilla Vodka (no brand preference, they are all delicious!)
1 part Peppermint Schnapps
2 parts Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua or any other brand is fine)
4 parts Milk (whole milk is best in my opinion)
*** A "part" is whatever measurement you want to use. Could be a cup, could be a jigger. As long as it is an equal amount every time. It all depends on how many drinks you are planning to make.
Pour this delicious mix over a few pieces of ice and stir. Garnish with a mini candy cane and a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar on top.
Last year during the holiday season Kahlua released some seasonal flavors of their coffee liqueur. One of the flavors was Peppermint Mocha. Sounds delicious. I can tell you that it is, in fact, delicious. So, as a Christmas "happy" I bought my girlfriend a bottle so that we could make festive White Russians, her favorite cocktail. This new twist seemed to be something right up her alley and we were both very excited to make a White Russian with this new flavor of Kahlua. Well, the drinks we made were indeed delicious, but we thought it lacked a little something. It didn't seem "Christmas-y" enough. Instead, it was just a tiny bit different from a regular ole White Russian. After a few cocktails and some thought, we realized what was missing. You see, the thing about peppermint is that it is both minty and sweet, and the Kahlua just didn't add enough sweetness.
That's when the inspiration came to me. I wanted a for-real "Christmas-tasting" drink and was determined to make one. I decided to play around with peppermint schnapps as an addition to the traditional White Russian recipe. This got me half way there. Since the White Russian is already a drink that reminds me of a dessert, I thought it would be a nice addition to add a little sweetness. That's when I decided to use vanilla flavored vodka. That did the trick! The perfect balance of sweet, creamy and minty! A perfect cold-weather drink to enjoy with friends and family after a big Christmas dinner. So, from me to you, cheers to a happy holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year.
"Christmas-Tasting" Peppermint White Russians:
1 part Vanilla Vodka (no brand preference, they are all delicious!)
1 part Peppermint Schnapps
2 parts Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua or any other brand is fine)
4 parts Milk (whole milk is best in my opinion)
*** A "part" is whatever measurement you want to use. Could be a cup, could be a jigger. As long as it is an equal amount every time. It all depends on how many drinks you are planning to make.
Pour this delicious mix over a few pieces of ice and stir. Garnish with a mini candy cane and a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar on top.
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