Velvet Hammer
Vodka, Cointreau, crème de cacao, and cream — the 1970s after-dinner cocktail layering orange, chocolate, and vanilla in a velvety emulsion.
- 1 ozvodka
- 1 ozcreme de cacao(white or dark)
- 1 ozcoffee liqueur(such as Kahlua)
- 1 ozheavy cream
- chocolate shavingsgarnish
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The Velvet Hammer is a rich after-dinner cocktail that exemplifies 1970s American indulgence, combining multiple cream liqueurs with vodka and often ice cream or heavy cream in proportions that create a dessert-quality drinking experience. The drink emerged during the same decade as other cream-forward cocktails — the White Russian, the Mudslide, the Grasshopper — when dairy-based cocktails were considered sophisticatedly indulgent rather than excessive. Cointreau, white creme de cacao, and cream provided a profile layering orange, chocolate, and vanilla notes beneath the vodka, creating something closer to a dessert than a spirit-forward cocktail. The velvety texture of the cream and the smooth integration of liqueurs gave it its name — a drink that hits with the force of a hammer but with the smoothness of velvet.
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Everything you need to make a great Velvet Hammer at home.
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