EVERY NOW and then, it's fun to cap off an evening with something - ahem - cool and creamy. Though ice-cream season is almost behind us, there are still plenty of local treats that can satisfy your sweet tooth. And watch out, pastry chefs: you've got competition. Thanks to savvy bartenders, night owls and candy freaks can get their fix in one smooth sip. Dessert-inspired cocktails can be rich and chocolate-y, tart and fruity, even potent variations on your favorite frappe. And they can taste just as sinful as a big forkful of cake - but they're a little more portable. After all, it's hard to mingle at a hotspot when you're clutching a slice of cheesecake.
When it comes to cocktails, chocolate lovers (and really, who isn't one?) have it good. Godiva, that pinnacle of decadence, offers several velvety liqueurs of which Boston bartenders make good use. Though an Irish bar near Faneuil Hall doesn't seem a likely destination for anything other than pints, the Tap (19 Union Street, Boston, 617.367.0033) might surprise you with its diverse martini menu. The best of all is the Truffletini ($9), a confection of Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, Godiva Original Chocolate Liqueur, and Stoli vodka, drizzled with chocolate syrup. Chocolate, white chocolate, and more chocolate? If Willy Wonka had a signature cocktail, this would probably be it.
Chocolate goes with just about everything, but its true soul mate just might be mint, that beloved herb that shakes things up with its fresh, sweet bite. At Tia's on the Waterfront (200 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, 617.227.0828), the chocolate mint martini ($11) is like a glassful of melted Andes candies: Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur meets Bacardi, light Crème de Menthe, milk, and chocolate syrup in a minty tour de force.
Of course, chocolate and coffee are a damn good pairing, too. Need a jolt with your cocktail? The West Side Lounge (1680 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.441.5566) elaborates on a modern classic with its chocolate espresso martini ($9): espresso, Stoli Vanil, white Crème de Cacao, and that ubiquitous Godiva Original Chocolate Liqueur. And it's available decaffeinated, for those of you who don't want to be too wired to get your beauty rest.
Dessert doesn't get much better than tiramisu, that Italian confection of mascarpone cheese, ladyfingers, and espresso. If you can't make it to the North End for an authentic serving of heaven, a fantastic substitute is the tiramisu martini ($12) at Nebo (90 N. Washington Street, Boston, 617.723.6326). All right, fine, so it's right around the corner from the North End, but that's beside the point. Hinting at all of the traditional tiramisu flavors, the martini blends the delectable Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur with Grey Goose vodka, Kahlua, amaretto, and chocolate shavings.
But maybe your tastes are more Naples, Florida, than Naples, Italy. Not to worry; the Key lime pie martini ($7.50) at Cambridge Common (1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.547.1228) is perfect for those who prefer fruity indulgence. Tart and sweet like the jewels of the Florida Keys should be, this drink is a pleasantly puckering mix of Bacardi Limón, Stoli Vanil, and a splash of pineapple juice.
For more citrus notes and a taste of another Italian favorite, order the lemon ice martini ($10.50), a drinkable Italian ice. Grey Goose Le Citron, Italian lemon ice, and fresh lemon juice make this zesty cocktail an instant classic - just like its inspiration.
Like a grown-up version of a Dairy Queen Blizzard, the ideal dessert drink incorporates actual chunks of dessert. What about pieces of bourbon pecan pie mixed into four scoops of homemade vanilla ice cream, then blended with Marie Brizard dark crème de cacao? The ultimate shake? Actually, it's the Ten Dollar Shake (an ironic $9), the crowning glory of the dessert menu at the B-Side Lounge (92 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, 617.354.0766). Of course, since it's made with ice cream and we're in Massachusetts, it's really a frappe, right? Never mind; who cares? It's so damn delicious that they can call it whatever they want. Equally and surprisingly delicious is the Guinness Float ($8), more of that creamy vanilla ice cream floating in, you guessed it, Guinness. It sounds like a suspicious combination, but don't knock it until you've knocked one back. Those B-Side hipsters know what they're doing.
Even if you normally say no to dessert, how can you resist these tempting treats? Shouldn't your drink be just as sweet as you are, cupcake? @
