Minttukaakao p.2

MINTTUKAAKAO

(part 2)

(The first one made ~3 years ago, here)

Back with a winter classic, the Minttukaakao, now looking extra pretty! :3 One of the great peppermint drinks available, using proper ingredients yields proper results:

• 4 cl Minttu schnapps
• self-made hot chocolate (with full-fat milk!)
• lightly whipped cream on top

In a pre-heated glass/mug, add the peppermint schnapps, the cocoa and finally layer some cream on top. In addition, feel free to garnish with grated nutmeg, chocolate or anything you feel like.

This is truly a magnificent hot chocolate cocktail! 

SHOTS TIME!

SHOTS, SHOTS EVERYWHERE

Good evening ladies and gents! It's time to have some fun with shots! I've had a day off due to Ascension Thursday so instead of making grand cocktails (fine, I barely had any mixers at home) I pursued the art of shots!

I created five different and instead of making one blog for each separately I thought it would be the wisest just to compile them all under one sheet. Most of them were created purely out of visual outlooks, meaning they look better than they taste. But of those individual shots later on. Here we go!

ÄSSÄMIX

This shot is really something you can barely make outside Finland. The reason being one ingredient only (do correct me on this one?) available where I live now. Ässämix, named after the candy Fazer (a Finnish company) makes. As if "you're eating that dark and fruity candy at the same time". I agree. This shot was actually quite enjoyable! Sure, you can't really layer these ingredients but damn, tasty!

• 2 cl Salmiakkilikööri (explore the Finnish folklore *tshish*)
• 2 cl Passoã liqueur

In a shot glass, combine both ingredients and SHOOT!

SAMBUCA CON LA MOSCA

Simply put, Sambuca con la Mosca ("Sambuca with the fly") is Sambuca with three coffee beans and lit on fire. but more complicated put, it represents health, happiness and prosperity or the Holy Trinity. Either way,

• 4 cl Sambuca
• 3 coffee beans
• fire

Pour the sambuca in a shot glass, drop the coffee beans on it and light the thing on fire. Let it burn for a while, extinguish the fire and shoot! Taste-wise, as expected, very aniseed-like but the aftertaste is smooth and sweet. A great after dinner shot!

BANANA BOMBER

One layer drink I tried was the Banana Bomber. Given, there are multiple different recipes how one makes this but one thing is certain and that is the use of banana liqueur. The other half could be anything from tequila to vodka, whiskey, cointreau, you name it! This recipe included:

• 2 cl banana liqueur (not that green pisang stuff)
• 2 cl brandy

Merely a 2/5, this shooter wasn't really a good one. Like the saying garbage in, garbage out, I used a Spanish brandy and De Kuyper's banana liqueur. The liqueur had a strong essence taste to it and the brandy being young tasted coarse. Combined they didn't make a good combo. A hint of banana was in the background but in its essence, not a particularly great shot. Visually okay.

V8

Another curious one, the V8. I had to cut corners here and use a more potent ingredient that was actually called for since I didn't have the "softer" version at all :D

• 2 cl white peppermint schnapps (clear)
• 2 cl Stroh (54)

Layer the shot, the peppermint liqueur goes in first. As said, I only had a bottle of 80% (160 proof) Stroh in hand so I used that one. Well it layered just nicely (as almost pure alcohol does :D) but taste-wise. Ugh. A cruel shot. Like meth, not even once.

KÄNNIANKKA

(DRUNK DUCK)

Finally, the Känniankka (translated "Drunk Duck"). I have no history of who or where this was invented but some of my customers have asked for this. Basically it goes down to:

• 2 cl peppermint schnapps
• 2 cl jägermeister

Both ingredients should be properly frozen, as well as the glass. Layer the shot so the peppermint schnapps goes in first.

I made an exception to the rule and didn't shoot this as I did with the rest. No, I enjoyed this after eating pizza and while watching a Netflix series. Actually, around the time the Jäger's done and the pepper kicks into action, the combo works surprisingly well. A nice mix of herbal-pepperminty-sweetness I say. Hence, a solid 4/5 I give this shooter.

Tomorrow I'll be heading back to work. A few days more and then I'm off to to my well-deserved summer holiday! Yay!

SHOOT AWAY!

Minttukaakao

MINTTUKAAKAO

Greetings! Continuing our episodes of "warm drinks", there's one particular I want to bring forth; the Minttukaakao. No, there is no such thing as "Mint Hot Chocolate", no sir! It is and will always be "Minttukaakao". 

This is one of those warm cocktails at least us Finns order in massive amounts. They make this into a thermos, go "skiing" (among other things) and drink this. The Minttukaakao has become, as far as I know, a some sort of ideal. Winter and Minttukaakaos go hand-in-hand  with each other. That said, I wanted to prepare myself one of these. (Gosh I can't remember the last time I've had one)

In order to make a proper Minttukaakao, keep in mind that this is not a light drink. Quite the opposite to be exact! I remember my colleague say one evening that one of the customers asked for a "Minttukaakao without the cream float; I'm on a diet." O tempora, o mores! :D

• 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder (such as Van Houten)
• 1-1½ teaspoons of sugar
• ~2 dl (a tad less than a cup) of whole milk (regular milk is okay too, avoid skimmed/low-fat)
• fresh cream for the float (optional, especially if preparing for a thermos)
• 4 cl Minttu (but any white peppermint schnapps will do)

In a small pan mix the cocoa powder, sugar and milk. Heat it up until almost boiling. In a cup (remember to warm it beforehand) pour in the minttu and add the cocoa. With the help of a spoon float the cream on top.

I must say. It did its job! I believe this is best enjoyed with friends when it's freezing outside...and you guys are inside :)