Weekend Cocktail Blast from the Past: Root Beer Float Martini

Do you have fond memories of ice cream floats? I do. When I was a kid, my Dad and I used to sneak off to the Frosty Mug Root Beer shoppe for a icy root beer float. These would be put down in front of me in a frozen mug with big shards of ice falling off of it and I'd have to tippy-toe to reach the straw. Ohhh, those were so good on a screaming hot summer day. I've never forgotten that- or my love of floats. I recently had a root beer float martini at Chef Richard Blais' Flip Burger restaurant in Birmingham and it was excellent- although a bit pricey for just a couple of ounces. I guess you pay for all of the pyrotechnics and technology you get with it--- it arrives at the table smoking like a house on fire. Pretty dad-gum cool. Well, I can't make mine smoke and I'm afraid of the liquid nitrogen that Richard uses to fire these babies up.... but my home version of this is simple and sweet. Try it and go back to the ice cream counter of your youth- but this time, with a little kick to get your weekend off to a good start:) 

 Now, there are lots of ways to make an adult version of the root beer float. Some require expensive liqueurs like Galliano and you can also get root beer liqueur or root beer vodka (I like the Three Olives brand Root Beer Vodka) but unless you want to make a bunch of these, I'd just use vanilla vodka. You probably have it from one of my previous recipes.

ROOT BEER FLOAT MARTINI

Ingredients

1 ounce vanilla vodka

1 ounce Kahlua

4 ounces root beer, chilled

1/2 ounce heavy cream

1-2 scoops ice cream- depending on your glass

Dip your glass in water and put it in the freezer for a few minutes to chill. Put a scoop of ice cream in the glass. The size of the scoop is up to you. Put the vodka, Kahlua, and heavy cream in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until very cold. Pour over ice cream. Top up with root beer. Serve with a bendy straw:)

Happy Weekend!