Throwing a perfect cocktail party can often be tricky. The goal is to have everyone there imbibing your social lubricant of choice so that they’re mingling, they’re talking, and everyone is having a good time. The issue arises, however, when you reach a tipping point in the party; you have ended up greasing the wheels of conversation a bit too liberally with spirits, and the crowd goes from lively to drunk.
In a case like this, look to the past for a drink that is sure to please as well as keeping the alcohol content low enough to keep your guests safely outside of the lush zone. True, it has a shocking pink color that makes it look like a kid’s drink, but its smooth, nutty flavor and creamy finish is anything but childish.
How to Mix a Pink Squirrel
2 parts crème de noyaux. Noyaux is French for “cores” which refers to the method of manufacture of this reddish liqueur. Although almond in flavor, crème de noyaux is actually made from apricot pits. Some have suggested substituting with grenadine syrup to achieve the same pink color, but that would be a poor choice. Grenadine is sweet like crème de noyaux, but it lacks the almond flavoring.
1 part white crème de cacao. Cacao is French for “chocolate” which creates the other flavor component to this drink. There are both white and brown varieties of this liqueur, and it is highly recommended that you go with white. Presentation in this cocktail is key, and red does not mix with brown pleasingly.
1 part light cream. This ingredient is important, although a couple substitutions are acceptable. Light cream is best for the very reason it has its name: it’s light. Substituting a heavier cream like half & half or—worse yet—heavy cream is possible, but do not expect your guests to be very mobile.
The original recipe called to be mixed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, which makes for nice interplay with the chocolate and the almond flavors. This substitution, however, can turn your lively cocktail party into an ice cream social instead. If you do choose to use ice cream, choose a high-quality brand and make sure it is already slightly softened.
How to Serve a Pink Squirrel
Shake well and serve. Do not add ice to chill. Rather, keep the liqueurs and the cream in the refrigerator. Ice blends fine with liqueurs, but does not combine in the slightest with cream. The addition of ice to this drink, even to mix, will form a watery top layer to your drink.
The cocktail glass is a classic vessel to hold your new creation. Also known as a martini glass, the stem keeps the guest’s warm hands from the important ingredients, thereby keeping the cool parts cool. If you have opted instead to go with ice cream, choose instead a highball glass. In this case, you will want to use your guest’s warm hands to make the cocktail drinkable.
The alcohol content on this cocktail is quite low, but do take care to drink responsibly. It may be named after one of the cutest woodland creatures, but it can bite like a mountain lion if not consumed with care.
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