SPIRITS

Bourbon Cream Two Ways

Creamy bourbon makes delicious Southern-style drinks that can also count as dessert.

BY THERESA RAVENCRAFT

IIt is no surprise that bourbon is the spirit of choice in the South. It is an American whiskey, as 95% of the world’s bourbon is produced by distilleries in Kentucky. Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace and Jim Beam are a few of the top-selling brands in the United States. Kentucky is reported to have more barrels of whiskey than there are people in the state. The Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, has been making bourbon for more than 200 years. While the tradition of making high-quality bourbon and whiskey is at the forefront of their mission, Buffalo Trace Distillery has also crafted newer products, like Bourbon Cream. My introduction to Bourbon Cream came last summer when friends came to visit. The doorbell rang, and they presented us with a bottle of this delightful blend. Our guests suggested we sip it poured over ice or add it to coffee as an after-dinner drink. I was immediately a fan. As the name indicates, Bourbon Cream is velvety and delicious, with undertones of caramel and vanilla flavors. It is the perfect blend of smooth Kentucky bourbon and rich cream. We like to drink it cold, so we keep a bottle in the refrigerator.

BC AND COKE

When my son came to town last summer, he suggested we make a Bourbon Cream and Coke. Why didn’t I think of this? It is the perfect combination of creamy bourbon and bubbly, sweet Coca-Cola. I think we stumbled onto a new classic. We call it a BC and Coke.

Makes 1 serving

INGREDIENTS

½ cup ice ½ can Coke (6 ounces) 1½ ounces Bourbon Cream

METHOD

Place ice cubes in a (short) bourbon glass. Pour ½ can of Coke over the ice.

Pour one and a half ounces of Bourbon Cream into the glass. Sip and enjoy!

ROOT BEER AND BOURBON CREAM FLOAT

I still crave the root beer floats of my youth once in a while, but now we can make the boozy version — root beer, vanilla ice cream and Bourbon Cream. The root beer pairs with the rich Bourbon Cream perfectly. I’m not sure if you’d call this a drink or a dessert, but I’d definitely call it a delicious treat. Makes 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 can root beer (12 ounces) 4 scoops of ice cream of your choice 3 ounces Bourbon Cream

METHOD

Pour 6 ounces of root beer into each of two tall glasses. Add two scoops of ice cream to each glass. Pour one and a half ounces of Bourbon Cream over the ice cream. Serve with a straw for sipping and a long spoon for eating the ice cream.