More Cream With Your Chocolate Cream Martini?
Yes, please. The Barbara cocktail with vodka, creme de cacao and cream is the perfect drink for when the Chocolate Martini by itself just isn’t creamy enough.
And really, when are they?
Its that creamy chocolatey goodness of the Barbara cocktail that has propelled its long and decadent history as a dessert drink dating back to at least 1930. Seems like it should be longer and probably is.
Want To Hear A Tasty Tidbit Of Tipple Trivia About The Barbara Cocktail?
Well, we’re going to tell you anyway.
Out of the hundreds of drink recipes included in the Savoy Cocktail Book, Barbara being one, only two others contained vodka* in the original volume, the Russian (gin, vodka and creme de cacao) and the Yokohama (gin, vodka, oj, grenadine and absinthe). Both with the rare gin and vodka pairing like Kansas City Ice Water and one a chocolate gin martini.
Wow, wonder why that last libation didn’t catch on? Not enough juniper berry flavor for an after dinner dessert drink?
Truth be told, the Barbara cocktail never really caught on either. No doubt at least partially due to the Brandy Alexander. Her spirited brother mixes it up with brandy / dark chocolate instead of vodka / white chocolate and is very popular as a ladies’ man.
Or it could be because she sometimes goes by another name. Mr. Boston, for example, calls the Barbara Cocktail a Velvet Hammer† instead.
Behind The Bar – How To Make A Barbara Cocktail At Home
Barbara Cocktail Recipe:
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- ¾ oz white creme de cacao
- ¾ oz cream or half and half
Shake all the ingredients together with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Optionally garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg or dusting of cocoa powder.
Variations Of The Barbara Cocktail And Other Similar Drinks
- Alexander – gin, creme de cacao and cream.
- Alexander’s Sister – replace other sister Barbara’s creme de cacao with creme de menthe.
- Alexander The Great – pour some coffee liqueur into a Barbara cocktail.
- Angel’s Kiss – adds creme de violette to a Brandy Alexander
- Angel’s Tip – creme de cacao and cream.
- Brown Russian – drizzle some chocolate syrup onto a Barbara cocktail.
- California Cadillac – a Brandy Alexander with Galliano herbal liqueur.
- Foxy Lady – a Barbara cocktail with almond liqueur instead of vodka.
- Grasshopper – creme de menthe, creme de cacao and cream.
- Peppermint Stick – a Christmas candy themed drink with schnapps and no vodka.
- Silk Stocking – tequila, creme de cacao, cream and grenadine.
So, there’s just one more question. Who’s Barbara?
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