How to Make Mudslides

Mudslides are a great dessert drink that can be made in a variety of ways. The core liquors in a mudslide are vodka, Kahlua, Bailey's, and these are almost always in equal parts. You can make this drink frozen (blended with ice), on the rocks (over ice), or served up (in a martini glass). You can also add cream or ice cream depending on your tastes. Just follow the steps below for the type of mudslide you want to make.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• You always need ice
• Water or club soda (optional)
• GLASSWARE
• Collins or highball glass (8-12 oz / 240-350 ml) for standard frozen drink
• Rocks/old-fashioned glass (shorter, 8-12 oz) for a Mudslide on the rocks
• Martini/cocktail glass (standard) for a Mudslide martini
• LIQUORS
• Kahlua
• Bailey's (Bailey's Creme Caramel is a fun alternative)
• Vodka (vanilla vodkas work well in this drink)
• MIXERS
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)
• Cream (optional)
• GARNISH (optional)
• Chocolate syrup
• Whipped cream
• Cocoa powder
• EQUIPMENT
• Mixing tin/glass (rocks, martini)
• Swizzle stick/barspoon (martini)
• Bar strainer (martini)
• Blender (frozen)

1. 
    

   CHOOSING YOUR LIQUORS AND MIXERS:
   
   As mentioned, the basic Mudslide is vodka, Kahlua, and Bailey's. If you like the combination of caramel with chocolate and coffee, try Bailey's Creme Caramel. If making a drink without cream or ice cream, use a vanilla vodka. The frozen drink is the only one that uses ice cream, but all three have the option of using cream.

2. CHOOSING YOUR GLASSWARE:
   
   For the frozen drink, use a Collins or highball glass (12 oz). Get ready to break out your blender.
   
   For a mudslide on the rocks - use a rocks glass (kind of obvious), these are the shorter, wider glasses. This is the easiest, fastest type.
   
   And for the martini - use a martini glass. However, you'll be making the martini in a separate mixing tin/glass, as opposed to the original glass.

3. CHILL YOUR GLASS (martini only):
   If making a martini, now is the time to chill the glass. You can put it in the freezer or fridge. If you're worried about breakage, or this isn't practical, instead fill the glass with ice and water/club soda.

4. START WITH ICE:
   If using ice cream or making a martini, fill your glass (mixing tin) half full with ice, otherwise fill it to the top.

5. ADD THE LIQUOR:
   If you are working with a full glass of ice, pour equal amounts of vodka, Kahlua, and Bailey's into the glass, leaving about a one-inch window from the top of the glass if using cream. For martinis and ice cream drinks, the measurement is 3/4 or 1 oz. of each, depending on preference in strength.

6. ADD THE CREAM:
   1/2 ounce for rocks and martinis. 1 ounce for frozen drinks.

7. MIX:
   For the rocks drink pour it all into a mixing glass, then back into the rocks glass, stop reading, and enjoy your mudslide! For the martini, use your swizzle stick/barspoon to stir. And for frozen drinks, now is the time to pour it all in the blender!

8. ADD ICE CREAM (blended only):
   Two scoops will be plenty. Do NOT add the ice cream first, the ice should be on the BOTTOM of the blender so it will blend smoothly.

9. BLEND (blended only):
   Turn the blender on the lowest speed that will crush ice, continue to blend until you see a consistent funnel. The drink should be somewhat thick with ice cream, and resemble a slushie without.

10. DUMP OUT ICE AND WATER (martini only):
    Empty your chilled martini glass.

11. GARNISH (optional):
    In the martini glass, you can either give one good squeeze of Hershey's syrup in the very bottom, or you can mimic the design in the top picture by GENTLY squeezing the bottle and tracing fancy lines along the inside. Check out the seperate article for making a chocolate rim. To make a design in your Collins or highball, start near the inside lip and GENTLY squeeze, letting the lines run down to the bottom of the glass and then back up, like a 'W'. You can do this while the blender is working.

12. POUR THE DRINK:
    For the blended drinks you just need to pour them into their glass. For the martinis, use a bar strainer - if you put chocolate syrup in the bottom, pour down the side; if you made lacy designs, pour in the middle.

13. MORE GARNISH (optional):
    You can top off your frozen drinks with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Martinis can get a LITTLE sprinkling of cocoa powder.

14. ENJOY!!!
    Frozen drinks are easiest with a straw. Martinis and rocks drinks can be drunk without. However, if sipping over a long period, the liquids may separate and it's nice to have a straw to keep the drink well mixed. Plus straws are great for mixing in the Hershey's syrup goldmine at the bottom of the martini glass.

Tips & Warnings

• Soupy mudslide? Pour the mix into a glass, drop a couple ice cubes (and a little more ice cream) into the blender, pour the mix back, and try again.
• Mudslide too harsh? Add a little more Bailey's and stir well.
• Mudslide too weak? Don't use ice cream or cream.
• Mudslide still too weak? Pour the liquors in 2 parts vodka, 1 part, Bailey's, 1 part Kahlua.
• The colder the better - never forego the ice, or chilling your martini glass.
• While it may not taste like it, this is a fairly potent drink.
• If you are lactose intolerant, or get upset stomach from dairy, you should probably avoid Mudslides, as Bailey's contains cream.
• Always store opened Bailey's in the refrigerator, while the alcohol does act as a preservative, Bailey's is one of few liquors that can "go bad" over a very long period of time (in terms of years).

[Wasatch]

on 1/5/2009 Sounds good.

[StarrySkye]

on 1/5/2009 Sounds great. Good article...love the tips!

[argyle]

on 1/5/2009 Sounds tasty. Good mudslide recipe and instructions. Welcome to eHow!