Cocktails with Single cream/half-and-half
Single cream (UK) and half-and-half (US) are pourable dairy creams at 10–18% fat, used to enrich and lighten a drink rather than to whip.
How it's used
It lightens and pales a drink without giving it weight — there is not enough fat in it to whip, so it enriches and nothing more. It pours at 15–30 ml, the lower figure where it only softens the edge and the upper where the drink reads as creamy. Fat is also what protects cream from acid, and with this little of it the curdling threshold is low: keep it away from citrus and wine, add it last, and shake briefly. Coffee, chocolate and aged spirits all take it, and where double cream would thicken a drink this lightens it.
Substitutes for Single cream/half-and-half
Any pouring cream of 10–18% fat swaps in one for one, and US light cream (18–30%) works too, a little richer. Or mix equal parts heavy cream and whole milk, which comes out close to 20%. Heavy cream alone makes the drink denser and can whip in the shaker, so use a little less. Milk alone makes the drink thin.
At least 36% fat for US heavy cream and at least 48% for UK double cream. Too rich to swap straight, so cut it with milk.
US half-and-half vs UK single cream
Half-and-half runs 10.5–18% fat, and UK single cream is at least 18%; the two swap one for one.
