Hiya Gang!
The holiday season just wrapped up and fortunately….or unfortunately…..Lil’ ol’ moi just discovered Polar Bears!
NO! …..Not those Polar Bears….NOT the ones that Al Gore convinced us were doomed due to global warming!
The Polar Bears I’m talkin’ ’bout are a zesty, refreshing winter adult beverage perfect for sipping next to a roaring fire!
Mr. Calamity and I never heard of this seasonal cocktail until we were watching Schitt’s Creek on Netflix. David, one of the characters, delivered a quick, snarky line which easily could have gone unnoticed…… Something about “doing polar bear shots while everyone else….blah, blah, blah.”
I wondered what concocted a Polar Bear.
Well……. I found several variations of this wintery cocktail. One was made with bourbon. That didn’t seem very right…. Afterall, we’re talking Polar Bears here!….AND!!!….What self respecting Polar Bear would EVER be caught with bourbon in his possession?
Next, I found a version which called for Peppermint Schnapps and Creme de Cacao…… Sounds awesome!
We whipped up a few to sip by the fire over Christmas…….They were DEE-LISH!!!!!
Not being one to leave well enough alone, I decided to “tune up” the recipe! I added a sprig of fresh mint.
It started out as a crystal clear drink……It’s called a Polar Bear, fer cryin’ out loud!!!….. It needed to be white!!!….So I added a splash of Half & Half!!!!!….. This not only added a creamy color, but smoothed out the bite of the 100 proof schnapps.
With the “tune up” complete, I thought we needed some realism and accuracy in this beverage…… A quick addition of a small candy cane for a swizzle stick and some chocolate kisses or chocolate sprinkles topped off the drink….. Why the chocolate kisses, you ask? We are striving for realism here, aren’t we?………..
Polar Bears shit on ice flows!
Mixology notes:
Our original Polar Bears were mixed with Jacquin’s Creme de Cacao and Jacquin’s Peppermint Schnapps…… We have since upgraded the peppermint schnapps….. We have added Rumple Minze Peppermint Schnapps to the mix……..HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!…… This stuff is 100 proof!
So, this seemingly innocent looking cocktail is now a high octane ass kicker!!!!
Polar Bear Recipe:
- 1 shot Rumple Minze Peppermint Schnapps
- 1 shot Creme de Cacao
- Splash of Half & Half
- Sprig of mint
- Chocolate kisses or sprinkles
- Candy Cane
Fill small rocks glass with cracked ice, add the schnapps and creme de cacao……Shake or stir!….. Garnish with chocolate kisses and add the mint sprig, if you wish. Use a candy cane for a swizzle stick!
MMMMmmmmm!
POLAR BEAR!!!!!!
Calamity Jane