The Toasted Almond and Roasted Toasted Almond Cocktails

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into an ice-filled old-fashioned glass.

Tip: An equal pour of the two liqueurs is common, though the cream can vary from 1 to 2 ounces. Feel free to adjust the proportions of any ingredient to suit your personal taste.

Roasted Toasted Almond

The roasted toasted almond (or burnt almond ) is "roasted" by adding vodka to the mix. It is another relaxing sipper with a nice almond-coffee flavoring and it's really nice on chilly fall evenings by the fire.

To make this drink, build 1 ounce each of vodka, coffee liqueur, and amaretto in an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Fill with milk or cream. Shake by placing a mixing tin over the glass and give it one or two good shakes.

Dairy Alternatives

Milk or cream...which should you choose? The choice is up to you and each will create a slightly different drink.

Milk will create a lighter drink than cream. However, it's best not to use a milk lighter than 1 percent. If you pour skim milk, you will lose some of the richness and the drink will seem watered down.

There are a number of options within cream as well. A heavy whipping cream will create a richer toasted almond than one with regular cream. For a nice balance between the two extremes, half and half is a perfect option and a great cream for most cocktails.

Alternatively, any of the milk alternatives should make an excellent toasted almond. If you have developed a palate for soy, almond, or any other milk substitute, try it here. Almond milk would be a natural choice because it will complement the amaretto.

The Vodka

The roasted toasted almond is not a vodka martini and there is no need to use your best vodka. Choose that good "well" vodka you have stocked in your bar and the drink will be perfect.

Cheap vodka does not have to mean bad vodka, you just have to explore your options. There are many great tasting budget-friendly vodkas available today.

This is also a perfect candidate for flavored vodka. An espresso vodka, like the one from Three Olives, is a perfect choice and adds a nice coffee kick to the drink.

It's also easy to make your own coffee-infused vodka, simply follow the steps in this coffee bourbon recipe.

Other good options include chocolate and amaretto or any of the whipped cream or cake vodkas.

How Strong Is the Toasted Almond?

As you might imagine, the roasted recipe is slightly stronger than the roasted almond, though both are relatively tame in the cocktail world.

Using a 42 proof amaretto and 40 proof coffee liqueur, here's how these two recipes weigh in:

• Toasted Almond: 14 percent ABV (28 proof)
• Roasted Toasted Almond: 18 percent ABV (36 proof)

The vodka doesn't make too big of a difference, but it is a nice way to add an extra punch to the drink without getting out of control.