Tiramisu
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 15.3% ABV ∙
The Tiramisu shakes Cognac, coffee and cacao liqueurs, cream, egg yolk and mascarpone into a boozy liquid version of the Italian dessert. Rich and custardy, with a bittersweet coffee edge over Cognac warmth, finishing silky and faintly cocoa-dusted rather than sweet.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Cognac 30 mlCrème de Café liqueur 15 mlBrown crème de cacao 15 mlSingle cream/half-and-half 30 mlEgg yolk 1/2 pcMascarpone cheese 1 bsp
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a chocolate shaving
Tips
- Shake hard and long — the egg yolk and mascarpone need real force to emulsify into a smooth, aerated texture.
- Grate the chocolate garnish just before serving so the shavings sit dry and defined on the foam.
- Fine-strain firmly to catch any stray mascarpone or egg solids so the pour comes out silky, not grainy.
History
The Tiramisu cocktail is a dessert-style drink that translates the Italian dessert's coffee, chocolate, and mascarpone flavors into a shaken drink. The recipe is credited to bartender Adam Ennis, who created it in 2001 at the Isola bar in London, building it on a base of cognac with coffee liqueur, brown crème de cacao, cream, egg yolk, and a spoonful of mascarpone to echo the dessert's custard-like layers.
The dessert itself, tiramisu, has a disputed history. Restaurateurs Ado and Alba Campeol and chef Roberto Linguanotto are widely credited with developing it at their restaurant Le Beccherie in Treviso, where it appeared on the menu in 1972, though rival claims trace an earlier version to a 1938 or 1959 recipe in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and some accounts link it to an older restorative dessert served in Treviso in the 1800s. Tiramisu means "pick me up" in the Treviso dialect, a name later attached to the cocktail as a nod to the dessert it imitates.
FAQ
What is in a Tiramisu cocktail?
This Tiramisu cocktail is made of Cognac, crème de café liqueur, brown crème de cacao, single cream, egg yolk, and a spoon of mascarpone cheese, shaken and fine-strained into a chilled glass. It is finished with a chocolate shaving garnish, echoing the coffee, cocoa, and mascarpone of the dessert it's named for.
What alcohol goes into a Tiramisu cocktail?
Cognac is the base spirit, joined by coffee and chocolate liqueurs that echo classic tiramisu flavors.
What liquor traditionally goes in tiramisu the dessert?
Traditional Italian tiramisu is typically flavored with a coffee liqueur, dark rum, or Marsala wine soaked into the ladyfingers, rather than one fixed spirit. This cocktail instead builds its coffee-and-cocoa flavor from Cognac with crème de café and crème de cacao liqueurs.
Is a Tiramisu cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The egg yolk, cream, and mascarpone need vigorous shaking with ice to emulsify into a smooth, cohesive texture before fine-straining into the glass.
What glass is a Tiramisu cocktail served in?
A martini glass, served up with no ice, garnished with chocolate shavings. The glass is pre-chilled beforehand since nothing in the pour keeps the drink cold once strained.
