If you’ve visited any typical college bar in the United States, you’ve probably seen a few people drinking the famous (or infamous) alcohol and energy drink combination (looking at you, Vodka and Red Bull). While this may be a highly efficient way to keep partygoers up and alert all night long, more of us are probably looking for a more low-key recipe focused on taste. That’s where our new, ready-to-drink cold brew coffees come in!
RTDo’s:
The secret to a great cold-brew inspired cocktail is to find just the right pairing of spirit and flavor. This may take a few tries since each cold brew flavor and spirit has its own unique taste, so don’t stress if the first combination isn’t perfect (you can’t go wrong with the ever-popular Baileys and coffee-flavored liquors like Kahlua.) Now, instead of choosing between a cup of tasty coffee and a refreshing cocktail, you can just have both!
For a quick and easy cold brew option, use a bottle of our recently released ready-to-drink cold brew line, which includes three delicious flavors – French Roast, French Roast Lightly Sweetened and Rain Forest Bold. Pick your favorite brew and try a couple of our personal favorite recipes below to create the perfect summer cocktail.
Cold Brew Martini
Ingredients:
2 oz of cold brew coffee
½ oz of simple syrup
2 oz of vodka
1 oz of coffee liqueur
3 coffee beans as garnish
Instructions:
Mix the cold brew, simple syrup, vodka and liqueur in a shaker with ice
Strain into a martini glass and top with three whole coffee beans
Long Island Iced Coffee
Ingredients:
1 tbsp of dark rum
1 tbsp of vodka
1 tbsp of gin
1 tbsp of tequila
2 tbsp of ginger beer
1-2 tbsp of lime juice
Your favorite Royal Cup Cold Brew Coffee
Lime wedges to serve
Instructions:
Fill a tall glass halfway with ice
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, spirits and lime juice; shake briefly
Strain over ice in the glass and add ginger beer and cold brew
Stir and garnish with lime wedges
Toasted Coconut and Rum Iced Coffee
Ingredients:
Creamer Ingredients:
1 ½ cups of unsweetened coconut flakes
One 14 oz can of full-fat coconut milk
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
Creamer Instructions:
Heat oven to 350ºF, spread coconut on sheet pan and bake 5 minutes;stir and repeat until coconut is golden
Heat coconut milk and brown sugar in saucepan, add coconut and bring to a boil
Let mixture simmer for 10 minutes
Remove from heat, cover and steep for 20 minutes before straining out the coconut flakes
Pour toasted coconut creamer into a jar and refrigerate until ready to use
In a glass, combine one cup of your favorite Royal Cup Cold Brew (we recommend the ready-to-drink Rainforest Bold), a few tablespoons of the toasted coconut creamer and 1 oz of rum. Top with ice and garnish with whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes.
RTDon’t:
Keep in mind that, if not done right, alcohol and caffeine can be a dangerous combination. The key to pairing alcohol and caffeine safely is simple: limit the amount you consume (after all, you’ll want to get some sleep eventually.) Caffeine, a stimulant, is known to mask the depressant effects of alcohol, and can you to be more alert while drinking but simultaneously unable to accurately assess your intoxication level. So, as they say, please drink/caffeinate responsibly!
Have a favorite caffeinated adult beverage? Share with us your photos of cold brew coffee inspired cocktails by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (@royalcup)!
