Champagne Float – A Float for Grownups

Who knew the death of a terrible terrorist would be the inspiration for a delightful new cocktail?

You’ll have to excuse me. I know I said I was going to limit my cocktails to classics, but after last night’s awesome creation and spectacular news I had to break my rule.  Friday things will go back to black & white.

If you were watching television, tweeting, on facebook or pretty much just alive and awake in the world last night you heard the news that Osama Bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALs. I, myself, was elated when I heard.

I still remember where I was on 9/11: in bed.  Sleeping.  That’s right. I’d had a late night doing I don’t remember what, so I was out cold when the phone rang around seven.  I reached over to the night stand and groggily answered.  It was my mother.

Mom: Are you watching the news?

Me: (groggy) No, I was sleeping.

Mom: Turn on the news. We’re being attacked.

Me: (more alert) What?

I get up, go downstairs and turn on the television.  The images that appeared on screen were awesome.  It looked like something out of a great action film. Except it wasn’t an action film. It was real life. And it was happening right in front of me.

My boyfriend at the time (the same man who became my husband) had already left for work, so I was forced to witness this horrific event by myself in what suddenly felt like a huge house.  I was scared, shocked, speechless, and numb all at the same time.  My mother and I sat on the phone in silence.  We weren’t talking because what was there to say. But I didn’t want to hang up either because it was nice just to have the comfort of knowing there was someone on the other end of the line experiencing the same array of emotions I was feeling.

After who knows how long, 5, 10, 15 minutes, I told my mother I had to get off the phone and call my man. I wanted to see if he knew what had happened.  I wanted to know if he was feeling the same thing I was feeling. Was he okay? Was he scared? Was he coming home?  While he was alright physically, he was frightened by what was going on, but continued on to work anyway.  Happy to know the man I loved was all right, I numbly continued on with my day.

Cut to: Last night.

I had just returned home from a wonderfully inspiring weekend at Camp Blogaway and was tweeting with some of my new foodie friends when I saw the tweet: “Osama Bin Laden’s been killed.” I did a double take.  What?! Then I heard my hubs yell from his office, “Osama  Bin Laden’s dead.”  I immediately turned on the TV and saw the reports. It wasn’t a hoax. It was true.

As I continued to watch Twitter come alive with tweets both excited and cautious about the event, I realized I too wanted to join in the celebration.  Something this historical deserved champagne.  Or ice cream. I just wasn’t sure which.

I could’ve had ice cream with a glass of champagne, but that’s boring.  So then I thought maybe a champagne milkshake, but I just wasn’t sure that would work.  Then I remembered one of my favorite drinks growing up – a root beer float; and I realized that was what I wanted. I mean, why not?  Both champagne and root beer are carbonated and the vanilla ice cream provides just the right amount of sweetness to both liquids.

I’m so happy I tried this bizarre combination. The drink was absolutely deee-licious. The sweetness of the vanilla ice cream really brought out the flavor of the dry champagne.  It absolutely was the perfect cocktail for an event such as this.

So the next time you have something to celebrate, don’t just have a glass of champagne. Have a Champagne Float.

Champagne Float

• 1 – 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
• dry champagne

Scoop the ice cream into a pilsner glass.  Slowly pour the champagne into the glass, allowing the foam to rise and then recede before adding more champagne.

Serve with a straw and a spoon.