The thing about this drink is: No matter what kind of booze you got in your quarantine cabinet atm, it will work just fine. We used dark Rum, but the original of all originals asks for Vodka, which obviously works like a charm, too — it’s got “Russian” in the name for a reason.
The Kahlúa Dilemma
Next on the list of ingredients is a coffee liqueur. When we originally created and photographed the recipe (in the beginning of Covid-quarantines here in Germany, early 2020), we used Kahlúa, which at the time was labeled vegan. This, of course, is important to us, as that’s what Antagonist is all about: How to make the world a better place by changing the way we treat others.
But now that we post this, it’s 2021 and in the meantime, Kahlúa stated in an e-mail that “upon a thorough investigation (…), we discovered that one of our sugar suppliers uses a process that is not considered vegan-friendly”. We have an idea what that process might entail (and it’s f’d up, not gonna lie), but… well, you’ll have to make that judgement call by yourself. Navigating a world where you’ll have to trust that companies have all the correct information for every single cog in complex supply chains is quite an ask. We always try, but fail again and again.
“This judgement call is yours to make.”
Chances are that things in the company’s supply chain will change, and in said e-mail, Kahlúa stated that “we have now started a process (…) and hopefully in 6-12 months will be able to claim vegan again.”
In the meantime, if you’re looking for an alternative, there are some out there. Check with your local vegan shops, or if you’re lucky enough, vegan supermarkets (we’re quite spoiled here in Berlin). Alternatively, a quick web search comes up with a couple ideas, too. Example? Australian brand Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur claims to be vegan in their FAQ — we couldn’t find anything about their sugar supply chain on there, though. So again, judgement call and we’ll leave you to it.
Ready for Booze then?
Good. Please jump into your best sweatpants and find yourself the comfiest seat in the house to enjoy this easily made yet rich and creamy drink. Thank us later.
Ingredients:
- 2oz dark Rum (Vodka, Gin or Bourbon will work just perfectly, too)
- 1oz coffee liqueur (we used Kahlúa but… see above)
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
- 1-2 oz coconut cream
How To:
- Pour the dark Rum, the simple syrup and your coffee liqueur of choice into an old fashioned glass and add ice. Blend by stirring.
- Top with coconut cream and lightly stir again.
- Sprinkle some dark chocolate on top if you’re feeling fancy.
- Enjoy, but be warned; You might acquire a little milk beard.
Simple syrup recipe:
- Pour 1 cup of granulated cane sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan and stir.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, cook for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat; Let stand for 20 minutes.
- Pour mixture into a bowl through a wire-mesh strainer.
- Chill syrup until ready to use or bottle up for later.
