066 – Mudslide

A 2021 re-discovery of the 1950’s ‘Mudslide’ cocktail (or dessert if you prefer).

What started as a Covid lock-down activity, in the 105-day Sydney second-wave of the Delta-strain, is now a continuing journey through the cocktail’s of the past. This time, the ‘Mudslide’ from the 1950’s.

Make your own ‘mix-at-home’ #Locktail the ‘Mudslide.

METHOD – COFFEE SIMPLE SYRUP (prepare in advance) – Make (or buy) 60ml of espresso coffee, add 120gm brown sugar (or demerara sugar) and a dash of vanilla essence into a small pot, heat gently just until the sugar is fully dissolved. Remove and chill. Should make around 80-100ml of coffee simple syrup, sufficient for 4 or 5 ‘Mudslide’ cocktails.

FOR THE COCKTAIL – Add 30ml Apricot Brandy, 30ml Mancino Kopi Vermouth (if not available, substitute with 20ml Sweet Italian Red Vermouth and 10ml cold espresso coffee), 20ml Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur, 20ml of the Coffee Simple Syrup (recipe above), and 100ml of vanilla ice cream (or 60ml ice cream and 40ml ice if you prefer less creamy) into a blender. Blend until smooth and frappé style. Pour into a sufficiently large coupe or cocktail glass and garnish with grated chocolate, chocolate pieces or crumbled honeycomb.

FOR THE DESSERT – Same as above, but don’t add the ice-cream into the blender. Shake all of the other ingredients and then pour around a large ball of vanilla ice-cream. Eat with a spoon and then drink what is left after the ice-cream has gone.

HISTORICAL NOTES – The ‘Mudslide’ was most likely invented at the Wreck Bar and Grill, in the Cayman Islands during the 1950’s, although some histories suggest that it wasn’t until the 1970’s. There just isn’t a lot of credible history around on this drink, perhaps because it was (and still often is) unceremoniously presented in a low-grade plastic cup, most likely indicating a 1970’s heritage.

The original Mudslide was a combination of Vodka, Kahlua, and Irish Cream, with many restaurants during it’s peak in the 1970’s and in the 1980’s in the USA, adding a scoop of ice cream.

THE OFFICIAL MIX – There is no official mix for a Mudslide. The closest is Vodka, Kahlua and Irish Cream, with either ice or ice-cream.

TASTING NOTES – Basically and alcoholic milk-shake or thick-shake, with coffee liqueur.

LOCKTAIL CHANGES – A number of commentators suggest the Vodka is a wasted ingredient in a Mudslide, given the flavour direction of a ‘milkshake’ type mix. Some recipes introduce Cognac, Whisky or coffee-infused liqueurs or spirits. So first step was trialing a number of combinations that used Cognac (Hennessy), Whisky (GlenDronach 15-year), and even Drambuie, Amaro, Frangelico, Apricot Brandy, Italian Vermouth, Coffee-infused Vermouth and other recipe suggestions (some shown above).

The final result – triple coffee! Firstly Coffee Simple Syrup (recipe above) to add real freshly-made cold espresso-coffee, along with simple syrup sweetness. Second, cold-infused coffee beans, in this case in the form of Mancino’s Kopi Vermouth (this is a limited release product, so you can go close to replicating by using Carpano Antica, Italian Red Vermouth, say 40ml for two cocktails and infusing it with around eight cracked coffee beans overnight, and then straining the solids out before use). Finally coffee liqueur, either the original Kahlúa, or something similar such as Tia Maria. Triple Coffee.

Also some mature fruit and spice, from the selection of Apricot Brand, although you can just use regular Brandy or Cognac, and the flavours from the Vermouth, either the Macino Kopi Vermouth (my preference for this cocktail) or the Carpano Antica. They blend well together and balance out the extensive coffee. The end result, either as the ‘Affogato’ or the blended cocktail, is a coffee-rich, cold dessert or thick-shake with sweetness, spice and fruit. A very pleasant way to end a meal and keep yourself awake.

YOUR LOCKTAIL EXPERIENCE – If you’d rather taste than read, I am progressively building an ingredient list and other sourcing information on this site. I will re-use ingredients where I can (good for my budget too), so that the cost goes down overtime if you are ‘playing at home’.

Let me know what you think.

Cocktails you’d like reinvented.

Recipes you’ve tried and your ‘score’.

This is sixth cocktail from the 1951-1960 bracket of ‘Locktail’ remixes. Full list in the index.