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Decadent and creamy, this is one incredible after-dinner treat.
About the cocktail
Ever stared at an Old Fashioned and thought, you know what this really needs? A scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Yeah, neither have we, but one bloke dared to dream – culinary tinkerer, bar brainiac and flavour tragic of the highest order, Matt Linklater. You may remember him from such Dan’s Daily productions as our very own cocktail book or his last ripper cocktail collab the Passionfruit and Fennel Margarita. If not, and if our cracking intro didn’t give it away, Matt’s a bartender by trade and a creative at heart. Who else would have the stones to chuck ice cream into an Old Fashioned? “It’s part affogato, part Old Fashioned, part Espresso Martini, and a play on an old cocktail called the Obligatory from a bar called Dead Ringer,” explains Matt. “I also really like whisky and ice cream, so it could just be that.” Matt’s Blue Ribbon Old Fashioned cocktail, yes, that Blue Ribbon, is a curious little number built on whisky, chilled espresso, maple syrup, a scoop of Blue Ribbon and a pinch of sea salt. It’s an Old Fashioned that’s gone a bit decadent. Or, as Matt puts it, “rich, creamy and fun.” Hard to argue with that. Maple syrup pops up in more than a few of Matty’s creations, but what’s it doing here? For him, it’s all about backing up the whisky. “I’m reaching for maple syrup more and more these days,” he says. “Mostly because I actually have it around more often than sugar syrup. It’s got depth and texture, and it just plays really nicely with whisky.” And then there’s the ice cream. “The first sip is for the whisky lovers, the last sip is for the ice cream freaks,” Matt says. “If you don’t like whisky, just mix all that ice cream in straight away and enjoy!” With that scoop tucked up against the side of the mug, this lands firmly in dessert territory. As Matt puts it: “This is a one-and-done dessert and drink in a cup.” Keen to give the Mattman’s Mr Freeze cocktail (his words not ours) a spin? Have a squiz at his tips below.
Watch: How to make a Blue Ribbon Old Fashioned
Ingredients
⅓ cup Blue Ribbon vanilla ice cream 30mL Johnnie Walker Black Ruby 30mL espresso, chilled 15mL maple syrup Pinch of sea salt Glass: coffee cup
Method
Scoop ice cream into a coffee cup neatly pressing up to one side, and place in the freezer (do this at least 15 mins prior to mixing your cocktail) Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir to dissolve the salt Take the prepared cup from the freezer and pour the drink neatly next to the ice cream Serve on a saucer with a spoon
Matt’s top tips
First up: prep. If you haven’t popped your glassware in the freezer – with the ice cream already scooped in – your cocktail is headed straight for goop city. So, before you do a thing with the other ingredients, make sure the mug with ice cream is chilling in the freezer. If you’re not much of a whisky fan and would rather sub out the whisky for another spirit, no sweat. Matt suggests going for a spirit with a similar rich flavour. “If I was choosing a different spirit, I’d ensure it stayed true to this tone – a nice rum or Cognac could do the trick.” Like anything creative, there’s room to play. Try swapping in different ice cream flavours and see what sticks. Aim for the usual suspects that get along with whisky and maple syrup – think butterscotch, caramel and even chocolate. Or get a bit out-there and chase some fruit notes with a fruitier scoop. Your call. Lastly, as per Matt’s instructions, chuck on ‘Righteous Minds’ by Joey Bada$$ and get to sipping.
Member Offer
$65 per bottle Non-Member: $67.99 each
