So, I’ve recently acquired a 12-oz bottle of creme de cacao (my mom is moving several states away, so she gave me everything she didn’t want to haul, including the entire contents of her liquor cabinet) and I’d like advice on the best way to drink it. My mom couldn’t remember what she’d used it for*. A quick poll of my friends came up with:
- Mix it with milk
- Mix it with coffee
- See if there’s a recipe on the label (there was: an Alexander – creme de cacao, brandy, and heavy cream).
We’re not the most creative group with our mixed drinks…
So, any creme de cacao enthusiasts out there? I’ve tried the milk thing (was fairly good) and I’ll probably do the Alexander and the coffee idea. I’ve got a pretty wide selection of other liquors now and buying other ingredients isn’t a problem. I’d prefer something not super-super sweet, if that’s at all possible.
*Which leads me to another question: should I be wary of any liquors that have been sitting, opened, for extended periods of time? Because some of these might be a decade old or more.
Anything without a high sugar content should be safe, if not as good as it used to be. I would worry about the creme de cacao before most other things.
Grasshopper!
Creme de cacao
creme de menthe
cream
ice cubes
You can get the proper recipe anywhere!
Mmmmmm…that was going to be my contribution, too…it’s like drinking a Girl Scout cookie.
A bartender at Maggiano’s introduced me to a version of the grasshopper made with really good vanilla ice cream. Mint, chocolate, ice cream, and booze–it’s decadence in a glass. 
Oh, yum. I love trying different bartender’s versions.
I used to make what was called Colorado ice cream (I don’t know how it got its name). Its flavoring was creme de cacao and coca-cola.
If you remember around December, put it in egg nog. My mouth is watering now…
Oo, the grasshopper sounds tasty. Definitely going on the list. I have to wait until Monday to get some creme de menthe.
I’m intrigued by the Colorado ice cream. Those aren’t tastes I would have expected someone to blend.
And, thanks, Amazingrace for thinking of some holiday cheer. 
ultrafilter, good to hear that. The really old stuff is scotch and vodka. The creme de cacao has some… little flakes in it, like it’s just beginning to separate. I drank about an ounce without gastro-intestinal incident, so I think I’ll risk it.
If it’s not making you sick, you’re probably good to go. On the other hand, last I checked, creme de cacao is pretty cheap (on the order of $15 for a 750 mL bottle), so there’s no need for you to chance it.
We invented a drink named after a phrase a guy I know liked to say. His line was choppity monkey smash, so we came up with the chocolatey monkey smash.
Creme de cacao, 99 bananas and vodka. It was quite good.
I won’t give recommended amounts, since we mixed to taste for various people. You can substitute any chocolate liqueur you like.
We vacation regularly in Pensacola Beach, Florida. The ubiquitous drink there is the Bushwacker. Various bars and restaurants have slightly different variations, but here’s my favorite:
5oz. Spiced Rum
3oz. Kalua
4oz. Dark Creme de Cacao
4oz. Coco Lopez Coconut Cream
4oz. Vanilla Ice Cream
————
Blend with 4 cups ice until smooth - Serves 4
Popular after dinner drink back in the Wisconsin supper clubs used to be a Smith & Kerns
Creme de Cacao
half & half
club soda
Creme de Cacao was poured on the bottom in a tall rocks glass, then add the half & half and top with the soda. The half & half and soda blend together leaving the dark creme de cacao in it’s own layer at the bottom.
There are other versions of this using Kahlua, but I like the above better.
Pink Squirrel:
1/2 oz light creme de cacoa
1/2 oz creme de almond
2 oz cream
(Chocolate Almond)
Golden Cadillac
1/2 oz light creme de cacao
1/2 oz Galliano
2 oz cream
(Chocolate Licorace)
Banshee:
1/2 oz light creme de cacao
1/2 oz creme de banana
2 oz creme
(Chocolate banana)
Blue Tail Fly
1/2 oz light creme de cacao
1/2 oz blue curacao
2 oz cream
(Blue Chocolate Orange)
Velvet Hammer:
1/2 oz light creme de cacao
1/2 oz triple sec
2 oz cream
(Chocolate Orange)
Chocolate Martini:
2 oz Vodka
1 oz Chocolate Liqueur
Cherry
Cocktail glass-chilled
-Randmcnally, who graduated from bar tending school Friday.
Remember, don’t shake any of these. If you do the milk will foam up. You roll the drinks instead to get them to blend.