Mixlio
01What it is
Creamy cocktails are rich, smooth and often sweet. They use cream, egg, coffee or rich liqueurs like crème de cacao and coffee liqueur.
Think of them as dessert in a glass. They're best after dinner, when you want something comforting rather than refreshing.
02A short history
The Alexander, gin or brandy with crème de cacao and cream, dates from the early 1900s. The Black Russian was created in Brussels in 1949, and adding cream turned it into the White Russian.
Irish Coffee was first served at Foynes airport in Ireland in the 1940s to warm up cold travellers. In the 1980s London bartender Dick Bradsell created the Espresso Martini, one of today's most popular cocktails.
03Two base recipes
Shake drinks with cream hard, so they turn light and frothy instead of heavy.
04Why it tastes this way
Fat carries flavour
Cream and egg coat your tongue, so flavours like chocolate and coffee last longer.
It hides the alcohol
Richness softens the burn of the spirit, so these drinks taste gentle. They often aren't.
Shaking adds air
A hard shake whips the cream a little, giving a silky, almost mousse-like texture.
05The family tree
Same family, small changes. Each of these is one swap away from the next.
AlexanderCognac, crème de cacao and cream.
GrasshopperMint and chocolate liqueurs with cream.
White RussianVodka, coffee liqueur and cream.
Black RussianVodka and coffee liqueur, no cream.
Espresso MartiniVodka, coffee liqueur and fresh espresso, shaken to a foam.
Irish CoffeeIrish whiskey, hot coffee and sugar, with lightly whipped cream.
Porto FlipBrandy, port and egg yolk.
StingerCognac and white crème de menthe.
French ConnectionCognac and amaretto.06Spot it on a menu
Look for these words. Tap one to see what it means.
Cream, coffee or chocolate on the ingredient list usually means an after-dinner drink.
07How to order it
- Order one in place of dessert.
- If you want it lighter, ask for it with less cream, or try an Espresso Martini, which has none.
- Most are sweet; say so if you prefer less sugar.
08Mistakes to avoid
A weak shake
Cream needs a hard shake to turn silky.
Old cream
Use fresh, cold cream.
Too much sugar
The liqueurs are already sweet; taste before adding syrup.
09Start with these three
Espresso MartiniA fresh shot of espresso shaken with vodka, coffee liqueur and sugar. Comes out with a thick foam and three beans on top.
White RussianA Black Russian with cream floated on top and stirred in slowly. Softer, paler and closer to dessert than the drink it comes from.
Irish CoffeeHot coffee sweetened and spiked with Irish whiskey, then a collar of cold cream poured over a spoon. Drink it through the cream, do not stir.10All 9 creamy classics
11Browse them in the library
See every creamy classic as photo cards, next to the other lists in the cocktail library.