Author: corrie.pennington

vodka

Colorado Bulldog

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A Colorado Bulldog is the perfect cocktail for coffee lovers. It tastes like a melted root beer float and is decant, yet simple.

The Colorado Bulldog is a new-to-me cocktail I’m so excited to share with y’all. I know I posted another dessert cocktail earlier this week, but I’m being honest when I say I’m not *usually* a sweet drink kinda gal. It’s just that I made a double-batch of homemade coffee liqueur so now I need want to use it. I have to be in the right mood for a sweet drink but a coffee-flavored sweet drink almost always sounds nice.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

A Colorado Bulldog is the perfect cocktail for coffee lovers. It tastes like a melted root beer float and is decant, yet simple.

I had never heard of a Colorado Bulldog until my Mother-in-Law told me about them. She’s the one I shared my first White Russian with and she told me about Colorado Bulldogs then. The recipe intrigued me but my husband and I try hard not to keep coke stocked in the fridge. If I’m feeling like a fizzy drink, an unsweetened flavored sparkling water is often enough to satiate that need. But man, sometimes you just need a COKE.

And when I say coke, what I mean is soda. I’m from the south where “coke” means anything from Dr. Pepper to cream soda to Fanta and to, of course, Coca Cola. Speaking of regional words, did you know that SOME people in this blessed country call sprinkles “jimmies”? JIMMIES, for cryin’ out loud! I can’t process that information.

But I digress. The Colorado Bulldog is a sweet sip that’s perfect for after dinner. It honestly tastes like a melted root beer float. Er, a melted Coke float. If you’re looking for a way to use up that Kahlua that’s been hanging out in your bar cart for ages, make yourself a Colorado Bulldog. I think you’ll like it.

The Ingredients

  • 1 oz coffee liqueur (homemade always tastes better!)
  • 1 oz vodka
  • 2 oz Coke
  • 2 oz half and half (the real recipe calls for heavy cream but I always have 1/2 & 1/2 in the fridge)

The How-To

Fill a low-ball glass or a taller, skinny glass (how’s that for bartender lingo) with ice. Pour in the ingredients in the order listed. Coffee liqueur–> vodka–>Coke–>half & half. Pouring the half & half in last keeps the drink from fizzing up too much. If you’ve ever made a rootbeer float, you’ve seen what happens when you add Coke to dairy. Big ol’ pillowy bubbles. Stir together until you get a beautiful café au lait color.

A Colorado Bulldog is the perfect cocktail for coffee lovers. It tastes like a melted root beer float and is decant, yet simple.
vodka

White Russian | A Decadent 3 Ingredient Cocktail

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The White Russian is 90s classic thanks to the Big Lebowski. It's a simple yet decadent 3-ingredient cocktail that tastes like melted coffee ice cream. Make one. Your tastebuds will thank you.

My first time drinking a White Russian was at a casino in Reno, Nevada (which, BTW, is pronounced Nev-AD-a, not Nev-AH-duh… something we learned rather quickly). We had just moved there from Texas the day before and were looking to explore our new town. Like any newcomer would do, we headed straight downtown.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I honestly can’t remember which casino we went to that night, but I DO remember my mother-in-law ordering us all a round of White Russians. Which, to my astonishment, were not only FREE thanks to us being seated at the Blackjack table, but also DELICIOUS. I’m not usually a sweet drink kinda person but I make an exception for these babies.

The White Russian is 90s classic thanks to the Big Lebowski. It's a simple yet decadent 3-ingredient cocktail that tastes like melted coffee ice cream. Make one. Your tastebuds will thank you.

I’d heard of White Russians from the movie The Big Lebowski but honestly, the thought of vodka and cream made my stomach churn a bit. Wow, though. It tastes like melted ice cream with a touch of coffee flav. The drinks were small (but free) so we kept ordering them. The cocktail waitress thought it was hilarious and even passed on a message from the bartender who informed us that he had not made the drink since the 90s. Maybe together we can bring this drink back into the spotlight a bit.

While you can certainly purchase Kahlua (especially if you want to be true to The Dude), I love making my own coffee liqueur. It’s easy and since you’ll already have the vodka on hand to make this drink, you might as well go the DIY hand-crafted route. There are a lot of different ratios for a White Russian. The most common is a 2:1:1/2 with vodka being dominant. Personally, I enjoy more of a 1:1:1 ratio. Again, though, if you’re wanting to honor The Dude, just eyeball it.

Using coffee ice cubes takes your White Russian game up a notch. The White Russian is 90s classic thanks to the Big Lebowski. It's a simple yet decadent 3-ingredient cocktail that tastes like melted coffee ice cream. Make one. Your tastebuds will thank you.

Instead of plain ol’ ice, I used coffee ice cubes that I had made using leftover coffee. This is honestly a rare thing– but when it happens, I pour whatever’s remaining into an ice mold so that I have it on-hand for cocktails and iced coffee.

Pouring the cream over the back of a bar spoon helps create a layered look in the glass. But since you’re gonna be swirling it all together anyway, it’s not a necessary step. It’s really just a fun way to use that rando bar spoon you bought.

The Ingredients

The How-To

Add ice to a lowball glass. Pour in the vodka and coffee liqueur. Pour the cream over the back of a bar spoon if you want to be unnecessarily fancy or just dump it in. Stir until the color is cohesive. Sit & enjoy & if anyone comes near you, feel free to shout “Careful, man, there’s a beverage here!”

The White Russian is the perfect cocktail for coffee lovers. And with only 3 ingredients, anyone can make it!

Love easy cocktails? Check out these recipes with only 3 ingredients: The Sidecar, an authentic Daiquiri, the infamous Moscow Mule, and my personal go-to the Dark & Stormy.

Homemade Kahlua
liqueur

Homemade Coffee Liqueur

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This homemade Kahlua, or coffee liqueur, is simple to make it at home. All you need is vodka, coffee, sugar, and vanilla.

If you love coffee and cocktails, you’re sure to enjoy a homemade coffee liqueur. And while you can certainly purchase yourself a bottle of Kahlua to enjoy at the ready, making your own DIY Kahlua tastes better and may even turn out cheaper, depending on the brand of vodka you use for the base.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Don’t go using Grey Goose for this stuff. Stick to a cheaper brand or go for my personal favorite, Tito’s. I always buy the jumbo jug when I run out– it’s more cost-effective to get the 1.75L bottle, trust me. Vodka is my go-to liquor for jam cocktails and for making my own infusions, like vanilla bean vodka and cinnamon vodka. If you have more on hand, you’ll be more likely to experiment with it. Or drink it. Or both.

Coffee liqueur historically is made with rum but I prefer using vodka. Rum, in my opinion, makes it a touch too sweet. And you’ll see from the recipe that there’s already plenty of sugar. I don’t want the sweetness totally masking the taste of the coffee. Many homemade coffee liqueur recipes also call for instant coffee. Sorry. Can’t abide coffee granules. I’ve gotta use the real deal.

As with all recipes, using fresh vanilla beans is always best. But, they’re a bit expensive. And, using fresh vanilla bean means you’ll have to wait at least 2 weeks before you can enjoy your homemade coffee liqueur. I opted to use vanilla extract that a friend brought me back from Haiti. It’s pretty dang good.

DIY coffee liqueur is simple to make it at home. All you need is vodka, coffee, sugar, and vanilla.

Coffee liqueur can be enjoyed by itself over ice, in a White Russian, a Colorado Bulldog, in your coffee, etc. There are even some amazing banana bread recipes out there that call for Kahlua, although I’ve never made any myself. I doubled the recipe when I made it yesterday so my home is overflowing with this intoxicating coffee nectar. Looks like I’ll be trying all these recipes. OH. Brilliant idea. Bananas foster with coffee liqueur! Oh my gosh. Yes. Gonna be making that.

Homemade Kahlua, or coffee liqueur, is simple to make it at home. My favorite way to enjoy coffee liqueur is in a White Russian.
The White Russian- my favorite way to enjoy coffee liqueur.

The Ingredients for Homemade Coffee Liqueur

  • 1 cup of STRONG freshly-brewed coffee — I should’ve added an extra scoop or two of grounds when I made the coffee but alas, I was using what I had leftover in the pot from my afternoon pick-me-up
  • 1 cup of vodka
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon of vanilla extract OR a 1-inch section of fresh vanilla bean (must age for 2-4 weeks)

The How-To

Add all ingredients to a saucepan and heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool slightly before pouring it into a container. If you don’t have a funnel, invest it one. It will make your life so much easier & cleaner. I used an old glass juice bottle. You could also use mason jars. Just make sure it’s something that can seal tightly. You don’t need to refrigerate it. Your coffee liqueur will last a looong time (thanks to the alcohol and all that sugar). But really, don’t drink it after like, 2 years. Just to be safe.

Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup
Sidecar | A Classic Cocktail
brandy

Sidecar | A 3-Ingredient Classic Cocktail

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The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

The Sidecar is another classic cocktail with only 3 ingredients. As many classic drinks do, it’s got itself a muddled history. Some claim it was invented in Paris during World War I, while others say it was first created in London. No matter who created it or where, it’s arguably the most well-known and well-loved brandy cocktail.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

It was originally served with a sugared rim but is rarely served that way today. So, if you like your drinks a little more sweet, consider tracing the rim of your coupe glass and dipping it into some sugar before making your drink. Personally, I skip the sugar as the Sidecar is my go-to drink when I’m looking for something tart.

The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

The first time I ever had a Sidecar was at my friends’ house. They consider themselves cocktail aficionados and they introduced me to this classic when I first started delving into cocktails (as in, I had ordered maybe 2 cocktails prior to this point). I was instantly hooked on the tartness.

My friend told me I could easily make them at home and for a fraction of the cost that a bar would charge. He then proved this by pulling up an Excel spreadsheet that had all the information you could ever think of having. It was honestly impressive. He had created formulas to determine the cost per drink of several, several cocktails. Anytime he bought a new bottle of liquor, he would insert the cost & volume of the bottle so that all the numbers stayed accurate. I mean. Impressive. I guess that’s what happens when you combine an engineer and a cocktail enthusiast.

The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

Truthfully, those friends and that spreadsheet were the catalysts for my drink-making journey. I might not have realized how cost-effective it is to invest in a home bar if it weren’t for them. So cheers to you, Brian & Catherine. Thanks for the Sidecar all those years ago.

The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

The Ingredients

*These ratios are also disputed, but here is how I make one*

  • 1 1/2 oz brandy**
  • 3/4 oz orange liqueur
  • 3/4 oz lemon juice (freshly-squeezed, mind you! when you only have 3 ingredients in a cocktail, skimping on the fresh lemon juice will cost you)

The How-To

Fill your cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake shake shake. Pour into a coupe glass. Garnish with a large swath of lemon peel. (Twisting or squeezing the peel over your drink will release some delicious oils and take everything up a notch.)

**A quick note about brandy and cognac: Cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is cognac. Brandy can only be called Cognac if it comes from the Cognac region in France. So, Cognac : brandy :: Champagne : sparkling wine. (anyone else a fan of analogies?)

The Sidecar is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with only 3 simple ingredients: brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

Looking for other 3-ingredient cocktails? Check out the Daiquiri, the Moscow Mule, and the Dark & Stormy.

Diamond
The Authentic Daiquiri
rum

The Authentic Daiquiri | A Classic Cocktail with 3 Ingredients

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The authentic Daiquiri is a classic, 3-ingredient cocktail made with rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.

The daiquiri is a classic cocktail. As classic as it gets. And yet somehow, I know I have to pause and clarify just what kind of daiquiri I’m talking about here. I’m talking about a REAL, authentic daiquiri of yesteryear. Not the bright red frozen insult spilling out the top of a much-too-tall stadium cup. Those things make my stomach churn just looking at them. Why we would do such a thing to a time-honored classic is beyond me.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

The Daiquiri is a classic, 3-ingredient cocktail made with rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.

The Daiquiri has a long history, dating back to the early 1900s. Although technically, an old British Navy admiral named Edward “Old Grog” Vernon, could be first credited for the combination of rum, citrus, and sugar in an attempt to sober-up his crew. Anyhow, the Daiquiri lived in relative obscurity until the 1930s until Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald brought attention to it.

Hemingway actually loved the drink so much that he concocted his own variation of the drink, The Hemingway Daiquiri. The attention from renowned authors, coupled with the diminishing supply of whiskey (thanks to Prohibition and WWII), Americans were now more willing to turn to the rum which was previously frowned upon for being the drink of sailors and vagrants.

Brian Petro’s article about the history of the Daiquiri goes into interesting detail and even explains how this cocktail became the swirling, sugary mixture you see in dispensers at sporting events. It’s quite an informative read if you can spare a few extra minutes.

The Daiquiri is a classic, 3-ingredient cocktail made with rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. Garnish it with a slice of lime using a miniature clothespin for a fun detail.

So, let’s reclaim the Daiquiri name for what it is- a sophisticated yet uncomplicated cocktail. (Also, can we talk about that adorable mini-clothespin? I could just squeal. You can find your own at Dollar Tree.)

The Daiquiri is a classic, 3-ingredient cocktail made with rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.

The 3 Ingredients for an Authentic Daiquiri

  • 1 1/2 – 2 oz rum
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 3/4 oz lime juice (about 1 lime)

How to Make an Authentic Daiquiri

Juice your lime into a cocktail shaker. My lime had already been chillin’ in the fridge for a while so it wasn’t the freshest. But I’m sure the sailors aboard Old Grogg’s ship managed with worse. Add a generous amount of ice, the rum, & the simple syrup.

Shake all 3 ingredients vigorously for 30 seconds. Push through the burning in your arm muscle and the chill in your hand. Unless you can shake a cocktail shaker vigorously for 30 seconds without your arm getting tired. In that case… kudos to you and you might as well keep on shaking until it does to get a little workout in. Pour into a coupe glass and put your nose in the air while you drink it because you, my friend, now know how to make an authentic daiquiri.

Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Check out this one:

It’s gorgeous, affordable, and comes with a bar spoon AND a jigger. This is one small investment you need to make if you’re interested in creating cocktails at home!

Interested in other 3 ingredient cocktails? Check out these easy cocktails: