Simply change up the way you serve a White Russian and you’ve got this Vodka & Kahlua Ice Cream Cocktail I’ve titled a Ghost in the Graveyard. It’s a fantastic dessert cocktail with vanilla ice cream, black vodka and coffee liqueur.
I know, I’ve mentioned I do not love Halloween and it’s never a holiday that I’ve devoted a lot of time and attention towards. Honestly I wish I knew why it’s so ‘meh’ for me but I will divulge a little and my Vodka & Kahlua Ice Cream Cocktail that I’ve called a Ghost in the Graveyard is the latest example.
I have never been a fan of scary anything, the scariest movie I think I’ve ever seen is the Wizard of Oz (OK, maybe Jaws is up there too!), and though that impression is one from childhood, I’m OK if that’s the worst for me. I can’t even stand commercials for scary movies and nightmares are not something I want to help along!
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I also don’t like the color orange. Nothing about it. It’s harsh and not pretty and looks especially bad with black. So the idea that I’m supposed to decorate my home with colors I despise together has never appealed so my ‘holiday’ decorations are limited. Give me Christmas please…burgundy and green are SO much more up my alley!
Still, I’m a team player so I put on my thinking cap and decided it was time for another Halloween cocktail. Honestly? I cannot stand most of those foods that people make that look like body parts and if I’m not willing to go full throttle, then I’ll punt and do the one thing I can do with a ghoulish theme and that is to make a cocktail.
I decided to make this Vodka & Kahlua Ice Cream Cocktail. Combining vodka with coffee liqueur and half and half is a favorite after dinner sipper; subbing out the half and half for ice cream in this cocktail was right up my wussy ‘I don’t want it scary’ mantra!
I decided to create a cocktail using Blavod Black Vodka. It should be called ‘Sort of Black Vodka’ because it’s certainly dark but it’s not what I would really call black. Blavod Black Vodka gets its unique color from Black Catechu – the resin of the heartwood of the Acacia catechu, a tree indigenous to India and Burma. It’s a bit more really dark brownish gray…that’s the best we would give it. Blavod is made in the UK and imported to the states.
Still; it does add a dark component that when combined with other ingredients typically gives a bit spookier effect than regular vodka would but honestly? Now that I’ve found it and used it I can’t insist you do the same; for this drink I think the coffee liqueur is plenty dark to not warrant the additional expense unless you’re dying to try some black vodka like I was.
My cocktail is really a dessert drink and on any other day a similar combination of ingredients would be called a White Russian, a very popular dessert cocktail. But I’ve made it a bit differently and used a scoop of ice cream to replace the cream with the intent of having it be the ‘ghost’ in the name. Same great flavor but enjoyed a bit differently; you might want to serve it with a spoon!
The effect of dry ice pouring off this drink was cool but the effect is pretty short lived, so don’t consider it necessary. I had to keep replenishing it and ultimately almost froze my drink solid to get photos.
Plus you do NOT want to ingest dry ice, it is so cold it can burn. While this was cool looking; I see why it’s better used in a punch…you get the cool effect but no dry ice in YOUR cocktail. Future efforts and I will find a way to have the billowing smoke surrounding a cocktail but never again IN it…brrrrrr that sucker was COLD!
This one is easy and delicious; my kind of party drink. I’ll be sipping on one while I await the kiddos sitting on the front porch in my witch costume. Yes, that I do have; I do Professor McGonagell proud. I wish all of you a fun and not especially scary Halloween…and be safe out there!
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Vodka & Kahlua Ice Cream Cocktail
Similar to a White Russian, this has a scoop of ice cream in lieu of half and half…so delicious!
Place a couple of pieces of ice in the bottom of a rocks glass. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and pour vodka and coffee liqueur into the shaker and shake until cold. Strain and pour over the ice cream in the glass.
Serve with spoons.
I have not included dry ice in the preparation. While the photos are cool…realistically it would not be my preferred way to serve this cocktail.
Nutrition Facts
Vodka & Kahlua Ice Cream Cocktail
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
