What I'm Drinking: Black & White Italian Cocktail

I definitely have a soft spot for cocktails that contain Kahlua or Irish cream. There may have been a phase during my senior year of college in which my roommates and I would toast many an evening with mudslide milkshakes. Later, during my bar-going phase, one of my favorite go-to cocktail orders was Bailey's on the rocks. (Wild and crazy, I know.) So when I saw a recent episode of Giada at Home that featured this Black & White Italian cocktail, I was immediately hooked. (Plus the name brings to mind my favorite black & white cookies of New York City fame, which gave the recipe an extra warm and fuzzy connotation to me.)

The black & white name comes from the drink's layered appearance that occurs due to the different densities of the alcohols and the cream (science!). You'll want to mix together the cocktail before serving (or encourage your guests to stir their cocktails just before drinking to maintain the "Ooh! Aah!" factor). Key to this cocktail's flavor is the use of a coffee ice cube (and a dramatically-sized ice cube adds an extra something special) . . . so you'll want to make those ahead. (Pour that extra coffee into an ice cube tray instead of down the drain the next time you have some leftover in the pot.) If you're super-senstive to caffeine, use decaf instead to prevent any late-night jitters.

Black & White Italian Cocktail (printer-friendly version)
makes 1 drink

1 coffee ice cube (I like to use these large square ice molds)
1/2 ounce amaretto
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce coffee liqueur (e.g., Kahlua)
1 ounce organic half-and-half

1. Place the coffee ice cube in the bottom of an old-fashioned or rocks glass. Top with 1/2 ounce amaretto, 1 ounce vodka, and 1 ounce Kahlua. Stir to combine.
2. Top off with 1 ounce half-and-half; you will get a lovely layered look as the cream will sit atop the liqueur layer. Stir to combine before drinking.

(from this Giada De Laurentiis recipe)

Note: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link.