Easy - Make Simple Baileys Irish Cream Cocktails

Here it is ladies and lads, part 3 of the 3 Easy Cocktails series. This time we're concentrating on the creamy Baileys Irish Cream, it is winter (it was at the time of writing anyway), and these are great winter recipes. I know I'll be settling down and warming up with a Baileys Coffee on Christmas Eve, so as always, enjoy and happy cocktail making!

For the full list of cocktails covered in the EASY Cocktails series with links to the right pages go HERE.

To some it sounds obvious, it often eludes notice with it's simplicity, this is by far the easiest cocktail I know, but it's also quite variable. You can stick to the plain and simple or you can make additions that perfectly compliment the original favorite. Let's start, and all we need is a bottle of Baileys (presuming that you're going to want more than one) and a jar of coffee.

Method

Make a cup of coffee as you would normally, with instant coffee just one teaspoon will suffice, if you use real coffee then I'm sure you have your own preferred way to make it. The only difference is that you don't add milk or sugar.
Then you add one measure of Baileys Irish Cream. A measure of Baileys is usually 50ml (or 1.5 ounces, I think!).

You won't need sugar because Baileys is quite sweet already. Obviously the Baileys replaces m

ilk or cream!

Sit down, relax, and enjoy, the Baileys coffee will warm and chill you out in equal measure. If you're in need of a nightcap, then use decaffeinated coffee.

Perhaps you are looking for a slightly stronger concoction. It's easy to be inventive with this kind of drink because essentially it's just an alcohol laced coffee, but you can get a variety of flavored coffee out there. Perhaps a small dash of Peppermint Liqueur would set your steaming brew off just right, how about a trickle of Vanilla Vodka? Looking for a honey flavor- Use any Honey Orientated Whiskey Liqueurs, like Irish Mist, or a chocolate flavor? Brown Cacao is made by many distillers, check your local off-licence

Just remember while adding flavored alcohol to any drinks that they should be used sparingly as they have quite a strong effect on the taste, if too much is used then your drink may be spoiled.

Add a stick of Cinnamon for decoration.

A twist on the original Grasshopper recipe (credit to Amy Caton for that) which does not have Baileys in it. This version is creamier, thicker, and goes down like a milkshake. For those who favor the minty cocktails.

Required Ingredients;

• Vodka
• Creme de Menthe (Peppermint Liqueur)
• Baileys Irish Cream
• Cream/Milk
• Ice

Fill your Boston Glass with ice and measure in all the ingredients as follows;

1. 2 Parts Vodka
2. 1 Part Baileys Irish Cream
3. Half Part / 1Part Creme de Menthe
4. 3 Parts Cream / Milk

Firmly attach your Shaker to your Boston Glass and shake well for 3 seconds.

Fill a Highball Glass with Ice and strain the mix from your Boston Glass into it.

Serve with a straw

Option Garnish with a leaf of fresh mint

Option Add some Brown Cacao to give it a chocolate boost

This is a cold drink, so be sure to be somewhere warm if you're having one. This cocktail utilises a good few of the many things that Baileys can be used with, so as a second thought, be sure you're planning on making a night of it if you're going to have a Baileys Heaven.

Required Ingredients;

• Vodka
• Baileys Irish Cream
• Tia Maria
• Vanilla Liqueur
• Cream
• Powder Chocolate
• Ice

Fill your Boston Glass with ice and measure in all the ingredients as follows;

1. 1 Part Vodka
2. 1 Part Baileys Irish Cream
3. Half Part Tia Maria
4. Half Part Vanilla Liqueur
5. 3 Parts Cream

Firmly attach your Shaker to your Boston Glass and shake well for 3 seconds.

Fill a Highball Glass with Ice and strain the mix from your Boston Glass into it.

Shake some Powdered Chocolate on top when the bubbles have subsided a little.

Serve with a straw

Decorate with a Wafer Biscuit Straw or a Chocolate Flake

Each mix is designed to make one cocktail, though it can make as many as you want really, just bear in mind that if there are 7 parts in one mix, and only 5 in another, they are both designed to fill a glass the same way. If this isn't described well or clear enough I'll gladly answer any questions.

Hopefully this has been of some use to you, and you enjoy making (and drinking) these fine mixes. Any questions or comments are always welcome, and for now, thank you for reading!

Tom Caton