Sweet Drinks Instead of Dessert
Espresso Martini, Bailey’s Coffee, White Russian, B-52, Kir Royale
Apr 23, 2008
After a heavy Italian meal, there’s not always room for Tiramisu, but if you’re looking for something sweet as a follow-up to that Chianti buzz, consider an after-dinner drink to round off the meal. There are many traditional cocktails and after-dinner beverages that make for great desserts and appeal to your "sweet tooth," while also settling your stomach.
Espresso Martini
- ¾ ounce Kahlua
- ¾ ounce Vanilla Infused Vodka
- 1 ounce Espresso
Shaken over ice, strained, and served in a martini glass with a cocoa powder rim
Bailey’s Coffee
- 1 ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream
- 1 ounce Black Coffee
No milk or sugar necessary. Served hot in a coffee cup, or chilled with ice in a highball glass.
White Russian
- 1 ounce Kahlua
- 1 ounce Vodka
- Splash of Milk or Cream
Shaken and served over ice in an old-fashioned glass
B-52
- ¾ ounce Kahlua
- ¾ ounce Baileys Irish Cream
- ¾ ounce Grand Marnier
Layered in a cordial glass in the listed order
Champagne and Sparkling Wine
Champagne and sparkling wine are the perfect compliment to decadent desserts or sorbet, fresh fruit or cheese—or with the simplest piece of chocolate. Deliciously elegant with a soft finish, the bright bubbles will inspire your senses—served just as they are, or with a splash of something extra.
Traditional Mimosa
- 2 ounces Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
- 4 ounces Champagne or Sparkling Wine
Served in a champagne glass - a seaside, summer favorite with a Cointreau floater.
Kir Royale
- ¼ ounce Chambord (a delicious French black raspberry liqueur)
- 5 ounces Champagne or Sparkling Wine
Served in a champagne glass and garnished with a twist of lemon
Champagne Cocktail
- 1 sugar cube soaked with Angostura Bitters
- 6 ounces Champagne or Sparkling Wine
Served in a champagne glass and garnished with a twist of lemon
Sophisticated After Dinner Drinks
Most fine-dining restaurants offer a selection of dessert wines, ports, cordials and cognacs alongside their signature sweets. These post-dinner alternatives to cocktails are wildly considered to aid in digestion (“digestif”) and are most often apprecited on their own. While they vary in price and availability, they are consistent in their appeal to satisfy the most sophisticated palates.
Popular Dessert Wine
- Icewine (chilled, medium to full-body, tropical aroma)
- Moscato d’Asti (chilled, sweet, sparkling white wine)
- Sauternes (chilled, a French white, sweet & acidic)
Popular Port Wine
- Dow’s Vintage Port ‘85 (silky tannins, red with aromas of cherry, spice and nut)
- Taylor Fladgate 10yr (wood notes, mellow fruit – delicious alongside chocolate)
Popular Cordials
- Sambuca (Italian anisette, sweet licorice aroma – garnished with 3 espresso beans)
- Grand Marnier (type of triple sec with an orange essence)
- Amaretto Disarrano (sweet, almond-flavored Italian liqueur)
- Kahlua (dark, coffee liqueur)
Popular Cognacs
- Courvoisier VS (ripe fruit, flowers, fresh and oaky with short, yet intense finish)
- Hennessey VSOP (wood notes and spices, scent of cloves and cinnamon)
