The Golden Dream Cocktail

This dessert drink tastes kinda sorta like a Creamsicle

Remember Creamsicles? You know, those orange-covered vanilla ice cream bars that we enjoyed as kids?

We loved them. So of course we couldn’t resist this adult beverage, which tastes remarkably like a liquid version of that favorite childhood treat.

The Golden Dream is sweet (it’s meant for dessert, after all). But it’s not one dimensional. In fact, it features some interesting flavor nuances—and just enough alcohol to give it a kick.

Which makes this our dream dessert. 

Recipe: The Golden Dream Cocktail

When mixing this drink, the trick is to get the balance of ingredients just right. We like the classic formula: 2 parts each of Galliano, Cointreau, and orange juice, plus 1 part cream. But there are lots of variations on this cocktail, so feel free to experiment (more about recipe variations in the Notes). 

This recipe takes about 5 minutes to prepare, and serves 1.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce Galliano L’Autentico (see Notes)
• 1 ounce Cointreau (may substitute triple sec, although the flavor won’t be quite as good)
• 1 ounce orange juice (preferably fresh-squeezed)
• ½ ounce heavy cream (whipping cream; or in Britain, double cream)

Procedure

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds (longer shaking helps increase the foaminess of the cream, which creates a more attractive drink).
2. Strain into a cocktail glass (preferably one that’s been chilled) and serve. This drink is usually served without a garnish. But if you’d like one, feel free to add an orange slice or twist.

Notes

• Galliano (or Liquore Galliano L’Autentico, to use its official name) is an Italian liqueur that was created in 1896. In Italy, it’s most often sipped as a digestif (an after-dinner drink). It has a slight anise flavor, which makes it reminiscent of Sambuca. But it also has vanilla notes, which lends it some extra complexity. (It features hints of other herbs too, plus citrus.)
• There’s also a Galliano Vanilla on the market, although we rarely see it in stores. As its name suggests, it has a more prominent vanilla flavor.
• In the US, Galliano is most often used as a cocktail ingredient. It’s rarely consumed as a digestif, although it’s sometimes consumed in shots.
• Other cocktails that use Galliano include The Harvey Wallbanger and The Sundowner Cocktail. 
• Some recipes for the Golden Dream call for 50% more Galliano than we specify (and sometimes a bit less cream). Interesting, but we think those versions make the drink too “spicy.” 
• In fact, after tasting our recipe for this drink, you may want to use even less Galliano than we specify. (You’ll definitely notice its flavor in our version, though the other ingredients temper its assertiveness.) If you want less Galliano, start by reducing it from an ounce to ¾ ounce. 
• Basically, don’t be afraid to tinker with ingredient quantities in order to customize this recipe to your taste. 
• You’ll sometimes see this drink served in a parfait glass instead of a cocktail glass. 
• Although not traditional, the Golden Dream is also good served over crushed or shaved ice in a rocks (Old-Fashioned) glass. Use a straw if you’re going that route. 
• You can find several other boozy Creamsicle-like drinks that include ice cream and/or sherbet (just do a quick web search). The best we’ve seen is by our friend Barb, at Creative Culinary. 
• So who invented the Golden Dream? As is the case with so many drinks, the origins of this one are a bit uncertain. But it was probably created by Raimundo Alvarez, a bartender at the Old King Bar in Miami, Florida. Legend says he dedicated the drink to film actress Joan Crawford. 
• When was it created? Most likely in the early 1960s. David Herpin has found a reference to the drink dating to 1964, when it won a prize in a United Kingdom Bartenders Guild contest. 
• BTW, this drink is an official cocktail of the International Bartenders Association. Here’s a list of all their official cocktails. 
• Programming Note: We’re taking the rest of the month off for some down time. So we won’t be doing any additional posts this month (and we won’t be visiting other blogs for a while). We’ll be back with a new post on Wednesday, October 7.

Kitty Riffs sliding down the banister

A Dream Come True

“Gosh, Labor Day is coming up this weekend,” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “Summer is definitely over.”

“Right,” I said. “And with this post, we bid farewell to our Summer Sippin’ and Snarfin’ Series.”

“I’ve loved all the extra cocktail posts we did this summer,” said Mrs K R. “We started back in May with The Golden Dawn Cocktail.”

“And now we’re ending with the Golden Dream,” I said.

“Golden Dawn, Golden Dream,” said Mrs K R. “Sort of like bookends to the summer.”

“Speaking of dreams,” I said. “I’m dreaming of taking a few weeks off.”

“Me too!” said Mrs K R. “Even our cat, Kitty Riffs, is getting excited. Did you see her sliding down the banister in joy?”

“Yup. Kitties need some R&R too,” I said. “Just like us.”

“And fortunately, our dream is coming true,” said Mrs K R. “Cause we’re taking off for the rest of the month!”

See you in October.

You may also enjoy reading about:
The Golden Dawn Cocktail
Americano Cocktail
Suffering Bastard Cocktail
Lemon Drop Cocktail
Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Cape Codder Cocktail
El Presidente Cocktail
Bijou Cocktail
The Harvey Wallbanger
The Sundowner Cocktail
Cocktail Basics
Or check out the index for more