6 Boozy Ice Creams That Prove You Don't Have to Choose Between a Cocktail and Dessert

The alcohol-infused ice cream trend shows no signs of cooling off.

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March 13, 2020

Photo by: Häagen-Dazs

Häagen-Dazs

Ice cream is the best! But then again, so are cocktails. How to decide which to treat yourself to? Thankfully, there’s no need: The boozy ice cream trend, which has been going on for a few years now, is showing no signs of cooling off.

Haagen-Dazs has just announced plans to add two new flavors to its alcohol-infused Spirits Collection. Rosé & Cream ("Wine infused sweet cream ice cream folded together with a refreshingly tart Rosé flavored swirl," according to the company) and Whiskey Hazelnut Latte (“Delicious whiskey infused coffee ice cream blended with ribbons of hazelnut fudge and chocolate espresso flakes”) will make their debut in stores nationwide in April 2020, priced at $5.49 per 14-oz. carton.

Like previously released flavors in the Haagen-Dazs Spirits Collection – Irish Cream Brownie, Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle, Rum Tres Leches, Bourbon Praline Pecan, Amaretto Black Cherry Almond Toffee and Irish Cream Brownie Cookie Squares – the new flavors are 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. For context, that’s a lot less than the average glass of wine (about 12 percent alcohol by volume) or a regular beer (typically about 5 percent alcohol by volume). In fact, it’s about the same ABV as a non-alcoholic beer. So, no, you won’t feel a buzz from these boozy treats – and you don’t need an ID to buy them.

And in case you were wondering, Haagen-Dazs is not the only boozy ice cream on the block. Here are a few others that might melt your heart… and your resolve:

Tipsy Scoop

These liquor-infused ice creams promise to blend "the magic of an artisanal, hand-crafted ice cream with the mastery of a perfectly mixed cocktail," with a range of classic and seasonal flavors including Cake Batter Vodka Martini and Dark Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel. They’re not kidding with the Tipsy part either; the ice creams are as high as 5 percent ABV and can be purchased only by those 21 and over. You can order them online and at five dedicated "Barlour" locations in New York City (Manhattan and Brooklyn); Dallas; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Las Vegas, as well as from retailers nationwide.

Mercer’s Wine Ice Cream

Billed as “the ultimate pairing,” Mercer’s Wine Ice Creams come in 10 flavors such as Peach Wine Zinfandel, Chocolate Cabernet and Cherry Merlot. Produced in Upstate New York, they’re sold at retail locations around the country and can also be ordered via the Mercer’s website to ship to your door. Because the wine ice creams may be up to 5 percent ABV, they can be purchased only by those 21 and over.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

This creative Columbus, Ohio-based, nationally distributed artisanal ice cream maker offers alcoholic-beverage-inspired flavors like Frosé Sorbet ("Sangria-style frozen rosé with pear, strawberry, and watermelon") and Middle West Whiskey & Pecans ("Middle West Spirits’... whiskey-fueled ice cream — with notes of butterscotch, honey, coconut, and vanilla — laden with crunchy, salty, toasted pecans"). Jeni’s boozy flavors, which can be bought in stores or ordered online, top out at about 0.5 percent or less ABV, which it describes as "a miniscule, trace amount." "The alcohol from any beer, wine, and spirit we use to make a flavor is not burned off during production," the company explains on its website. "Alcohol lends a distinct flavor to several of our signature flavors, and especially in sorbets, it prevents ice crystals from forming, creating a smoother texture." Whether the boozy flavors are safe for children to eat, it adds, is "entirely up to each parent to decide."

BuzzBar

This line of gourmet alcohol-infused ice cream bars, sorbet bars and ice creams – made in Vermont says it provides “the Ultimate Gourmet Ice Cream Cocktail Experience.” Flavors include Vanilla Daze (“Vanilla Ice Cream + Cognac”), Blitzed Berry (“Strawberry Ice Cream + Rum”) and Bourbon St. Chocolate (“Chocolate Ice Cream + Whiskey”), with availability to purchase at locations across the U.S. The percentage of alcohol by volume varies from flavor to flavor Bourbon St. Chocolate is 1.63 percent ABV; Vanilla Daze is 2.64 percent ABV – and the packaging stipulates that the ice cream is “not for children.”

SnoBar

These alcohol-infused premium ice creams and ice pops promise "a full cocktail in every serving," and they mean it. The brand’s Brandy Alexander flavor dairy dessert, featuring brandy and creme de cacao, is 10.47 percent ABV, for example. Its Cosmopolitan ice pop, made with premium vodka and triple sec, meanwhile, clocks in at 14.68 percent ABV! So, yeah, not for kids. But probably fun for a night out with friends. SnoBar’s website says its products are available at liquor stores, bars, restaurants and nightclubs, but, alas, these big-time boozy ice creams and ice pops do not appear to be available for purchase online.

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