Description
This Chai Spiced Cocktail is sure to be your new favourite holiday drink! The perfect mix of strongly brewed chai tea, dark rum, and sweet maple cream liqueur makes for a cozy and flavorful cocktail.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chai Tea Base:
- 2 good quality chai tea bags
- 3/4 cup boiling water
For the Cocktail (Makes 2 servings):
- 4 ounces chilled brewed chai tea (from recipe above)
- 2 ounces dark rum
- 6 ounces maple cream liqueur (such as Cabot Triple Cream Maple or similar)
- Ice cubes
Optional Garnishes:
- Cinnamon stick
- Star anise pod
Instructions
1. Brew and Chill Chai Tea:
- Place the 2 chai tea bags in a mug or heatproof measuring cup.
- Pour the 3/4 cup of boiling water over the tea bags.
- Let the tea bags steep for 10 minutes (or according to package directions for a strong brew).
- Remove and discard the tea bags.
- Chill the brewed chai tea completely in the refrigerator before making the cocktail (at least 30 minutes).
2. Make the Cocktail (Choose Method):
- Shaken Method (Recommended): Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add the 4 ounces chilled chai tea, dark rum, and maple cream liqueur. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very cold (about 15-20 seconds). Strain the mixture evenly into 2 chilled small coupe glasses.
- Built Method: Fill two rocks glasses with ice. Add 1 ounce dark rum and 3 ounces maple cream liqueur to each glass. Top each glass with 2 ounces of the chilled chai tea. Stir gently to combine.
3. Garnish and Serve: Garnish each drink with a cinnamon stick or star anise pod, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Chai Tea: Brew a strong chai tea for the best flavor. Ensure it’s completely chilled before mixing the cocktail.
- Maple Cream Liqueur: This adds sweetness and creaminess. If unavailable, you could experiment with regular Irish cream or another cream liqueur and a splash of maple syrup, but the flavor will differ.
- Serving Options: Shaking chills the drink thoroughly and adds slight aeration (recommended). Building it over ice is simpler. Choose based on preference.
- Chilling Glasses: Chilling your coupe or rocks glasses beforehand keeps the drink colder longer.
- Storage: This cocktail is best made and served fresh. Store leftover chilled chai tea in the refrigerator.