Creamsicle

The Creamsicle is an dessert cocktail inspired by the classic frozen popsicle. It mixes Absolut Mandrin vodka, cognac orange liqueur, milk, whipped cream, and simple syrup, resulting in a sweet, creamy and oh-so-smooth cocktail.. Usually prepared in a cocktail shaker and served in a cocktail glass, sipping a Creamsicle is like taking a sip of nostalgia.

A Creamsicle cocktail captures the nostalgic essence of a classic orange popsicle with a spirited twist. The Creamsicle is sweet and very much a dessert cocktail, but there’s also complexity.

The mandarin-flavored vodka offers bright citrus notes, while the rich cognac orange liqueur adds a layer of complexity with its slightly bitter, marmalade-like flavors. Together with milk and cream, these ingredients create a smooth and creamy texture that makes for a luxurious drinking experience.

Although the exact origins of the Creamsicle cocktail are unclear, we know it’s a modern, nostalgic creation inspired by the classic orange popsicle, first invented in 1905 in the San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.

The cocktail, however, was almost certainly created in the early 2000s, coinciding with the surge in popularity of flavored vodkas. During this time, bartenders and mixologists began using flavored vodka to recreate the flavors of beloved childhood desserts and ice creams.

• Pre-chill your glassware
  To make sure your beverage stays cool from first sip to last, we recommend pre-chilling your glass. It’s simple but true – a chilled cocktail poured into a chilled glass leads to a better drinking experience. Place your glassware in the freezer for about 30 minutess.
• Double strain
  To create a perfectly smooth cocktail, we highly recommend double-straining your drink with both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer to prevent any ice chards. Check out this article to learn how to double strain your cocktail.
• Make your own whipped cream
  Avoid the supermarket stuff you can find in a can. Creating your own whipped cream is east. Simply use heavy whipping cream and either a stand mixer or hand mixer. That’s it!
• Choose the right milk
  When choosing the milk for your Creamicle cocktail, we recommend using half-and-half milk (or milk with 10–15% fat), which is perfect for balancing thickness and lightness.

• Creamscile with unflavored vodka
  Most recipes for the Creamsicle use unflavored vodka. Personally, we love how the flavors of Absolut Mandrin works with the cognac orange liqueur. Try both versions and see which you prefer.
• Creamscile with orange juice
  One modern variation of the Creamsicle replaces the milk with orange juice, and also uses vanilla-flavored vodka. The warm vanilla tones and the addition of extra citrus works incredibly.
• Creamsicle with vanilla vodka
  To rreally eplicate the taste of a classic orange-vanilla popsicle, substitute Absolut Mandrin for Absolut Vanilia.
• Use more cream and leave out the milk
  Instead of 15 ml of milk and 15 ml of cream, leave out the milk and double up on the whipped cream instead. Now that’s one creamy Creamsicle!
• Orange Creamscile Float
  This variation is built directly in the glass, preferably an ice cream glass. Measure and pour 30 ml mandarin-flavored vodka, 20 ml cognac orange liqueur, 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, top with 120 ml of orange soda and then finish with whipped cream. It’s the ultimate dessert!

• While we suggest serving the Creamsicle cocktail in a cocktail glass, you can also opt for an ice cream sundae glass, coupe glass, or even a rocks glass. All of these cocktail glass types are common for Creamsicle cocktails.
• Although our drink recipe does not include a garnish, orange zest works extremely well and heightens the flavors and aromas of the cognac orange liqueur and mandarin-flavored vodka. Adding really fruit will adds a freshness and prevents things from tasting too synthetic.Choose an orange twist and squeeze the zest over the cocktail, then drop it into the glass. Alternatively, grate orange zest over the top of your drink for bright aroma and color.
• You may also want to add a few dashes of oranges bitters to complement the orange flavors of the cocktail.
• Chocolate orange, anyone? Drizzle chocolate syrup on the inside of your glass before pouring in your cocktail.