Nutcracker Cocktail

There are a lot of very different drinks out there called “Nutcracker cocktail”, and I’m pretty sure it’s one of those cases where people invent a cocktail and pick a name without checking to see if it’s already in use (c’mon, people, we have a thing called search engines now).

One thing all these recipes have in common is sweetness. This is the version I found in an old book, and I’m guessing it’s the original. But who cares about the name if it tastes good, right? This drink blends the the flavors of coffee, almond, orange and caramel. It’s very similar to the B-52 shooter, with all those delicious candy-like sweet notes.

The overall flavor here is like a very sweet coffee drink, with strong hints of orange and caramel. This drink is great in place of an after-dinner cocktail. It can also replace dessert entirely.

It’s difficult to pair something this candy-like with a meal. It can work with a salty snack like dry-roasted peanuts or pretzels, or with a slice of cheesecake, no sauce. Just pairing the drink in your mouth with bites of cake would be fantastic.

Recipe

• 1 ounce Kahlua
• 1 ounce amaretto
• 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
• 1/2 ounce Baileys Irish cream

Build the ingredients into an old-fashioned glass.