I just hosted a Christmas dinner for my family in Quebec and as a hostess gift, my uncle got me a bottle of Coureur des Bois. The liqueur is similar to Irish cream, but….it’s maple-flavored! I brought the bottle back home and created a festive drink using the maple cream for New Year’s Eve.

This cocktail can be made using Irish cream if you can’t find the maple version, just add a bit of maple syrup to give it that tasty flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces good quality vodka
• 2 ounces maple cream liqueur (I use Cabot Trail Coureur des Bois) or Irish cream liqueur
• 2 ounces milk or light cream
• 1 ounce maple syrup (if using Irish cream liqueur)
• Piece of milk chocolate for grating, optional
• Maple lollipop, optional (I bought these on Amazon)

Directions:

1. Place ice, vodka, maple cream liqueur, milk/cream and maple syrup (if using) into a cocktail shaker and shake hard for about 15 seconds to ensure the liquids are very cold.
2. Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice.
3. Using a microplane or small grater, shave some of the chocolate over the drink, if using.
4. Serve with maple lollipop, if using.

Makes one cocktail.