I debuted my {Drink of the Week} feature last week with my Coconut Watermelon Margarita that was really delicious. This week I am bringing you a coffee inspired drink I have named the Emerald Coast. I’ll explain why I have named it the Emerald Coast a little further down but here is a sneak peek at the drink!
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and International Delight #CBias #SocialFabric. My drink recipe is original and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The cool thing is that I was asked to participate in a social shopper insight study by Collective Bias and International Delight so this weeks recipe features International Delight’s new Mocha Iced Coffee. If you are a fan of social media you might want to follow International Delight on Facebook and Twitter. They are doing all kinds of great promotions this summer as part of their #IcedDelight campaign.
I LOVE iced coffee. I think I had my first iced coffee when I was a teenager. It was at this cute little restaurant in my town called Dana’s by the Gorge. It was the It-Place in Quechee, Vermont and was popular with locals and tourists alike. Even though it has been over 10 years since I’ve been back, by the looks of their webpage, it is still a popular place. But I digress!
Now, back to iced coffee! The first time I had this cold coffee beverage swirled with sugar and fresh cream I was smitten for life. I developed an iced coffee habit that goes into hibernation from October through March but at the first sign of spring comes out growling like a hungry bear.
The closest Starbucks to where I live is well over an hour away, the closest Dunkin’ Donuts is the next state over, and until the McDonald’s moved in to town five years ago my only iced coffee option was homemade and lets face it, I’m LAZY! Remembering to make coffee, let alone chill it, is an act that often was only accomplished in my mind and my iced coffee addiction often went without a fix.
When I learned that International Delight had recently come out with a pre-made iced coffee product my first thought was, “AWESOME, I want to try that!” Which was quickly followed by, “Why has no one done this yet?” Sure Starbucks has it’s frappuccinos but they’re EXPENSIVE and, lets be honest, Starbucks coffee really isn’t that great! ANYWAY, I am way off topic again!
On Tuesday, Richie and I took a trip to the Sam’s Club in Jonesboro, AR. We love Sam’s Club and often a big “date night” for us is going to Sam’s for hot dogs and pizza and to taste the samples. We also like the cheap gas! Lame, I know, but I guess that’s what happens when you’ve been married almost 12 years!
Sam’s was featuring International Delight Mocha Iced Coffee in one of their sample carts on Tuesday. Here I am taking my first taste of Mocha Iced Coffee. The coffee was cold and refreshing. It was sweet but not too sweet and just the right strength of brew for me. I thought the Mocha flavor was pretty good but am more of a fan on International Delight’s Original Iced Coffee flavor. But the Mocha was good for a change!
I put together a Google + Album of my shopping experience. I hope you check it out and that you also think about checking out your local Sam’s Club because they have a lot to offer! To view all of my photos click here.
So let’s talk drink making!
I have created a SUPER YUMMY drink using the International Delight Mocha Iced Coffee that I am calling the Emerald Coast.
WHY Emerald Coast?
My MOST FAVORITE place in the whole world in Panama City Beach! Every summer my husband and I spend 6 days in Panama City Beach at the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach! I spend the remaining 359 days of the year dreaming about Panama City Beach. Much like the entire kid-year revolves around Christmas, my entire year revolves around Panama City Beach.
Panama City Beach is part of Florida’s Emerald Coast which is characterized by its emerald colored water and white sandy beaches. I figured a tasty cocktail was the perfect way to pay tribute to this wonderful place!
The minty green Creme de Menthe adds a refreshing zing to the tropical coconut flavor of the rum and the comforting flavor of the coffee with a color reminiscent of the waters of Panama City Beach. The fluffy white of the whipped cream and toasted coconut is meant to invoke memories of the white sandy beaches of Florida’s Emerald Coast!
Let’s make it!
THE EMERALD COAST {a cocktail}
Inspired by Panama City Beach
8 oz. International Delight Mocha Iced Coffee
1/2 – 1 oz. green Creme de Menthe (Depending on how minty you like it!)
3 oz. Coconut Rum
Green Food Coloring (Optional)
Land O’ Lakes Whipped Cream
Andes Candies
Toasted Coconut
Before preparing this drink you will need to toast some sweetened coconut. Place enough coconut into a DRY saute pan to cover the bottom. Turn the heat to low. Stir occasionally and WATCH CLOSELY! Coconut can burn very fast. As soon as it begins to lightly brown and produce a nutty aroma remove it from the heat immediately.
Next, I gathered all of my ingredients to make my cocktail.
Fill a cocktail shaker approximately 3/4 of the way with ice. Add the Creme de Menthe, Coconut Rum, and International Delight Mocha Iced Coffee. Adding green food coloring is optional if you wish to really bring out the green color in the drink. I did not use food coloring. Shake vigorously and pour into a glass. Top with Land O’ Lakes Whipped Light Cream and garnish with toasted coconut and an Andes Candy.
This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
Enjoy and please drink responsibly!
ICED COFFEE!!! I was SO in love with it last summer…and I haven’t even had one so far this summer {wait…we’re really only 1 day into the “real” summer, so I think I’m good!}. Thanks for the reminder…it looks delicious!
Oh my I wanted to jump out and just drink this through the computer screen! It looks so good!
Sounds delish. 🙂