5 Non-Dairy Cocktails For The Lactose Intolerant

If you are preparing for the festive season by announcing that you are lactose intolerant or vegan whenever plans involving food & drinks are brought up, I have you covered with these 5 non-dairy cocktails that you can make at home. Just call everyone over and chill without running to the bathroom whenever you take a sip of a creamy cocktail. 

1. Rumed Kiss of Steel

The cocktail Kiss of Steel is a non-dairy coffee beverage, perfect for festivities. But because I won’t drink anything without some alcohol in it, here is my version of this popular drink. 

What you’ll need:

• 30 ml cold-brew coffee
• 30 ml dark rum
• 30 ml vanilla almond milk
• 20 ml cinnamon bark syrup (instructions below)
• 1 cup cinnamon bark
• 6 cups sugar
• 6 cups water
• 1 orange wedge

Cinnamon Bark Syrup Instructions:

1. Grind cinnamon bark until it’s fine powder
2. Add it to a pan, and pour sugar and water into it
3. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer on a low flame for 5 minutes
4. Let it sit overnight
5. Strain and store in the refrigerator the next day (upto 2 weeks)

Instructions:

1. Add the cold-brew coffee, rum, vanilla almond milk and cinnamon bark syrup to a shaker
2. Add ice cubes to it, and shake well
3. Strain over crushed ice in a glass, garnish with an orange wedge, and serve

2. Grasshopper Cocktail

A sweet and creamy-textured drink with no dairy in it, the Grasshopper Cocktail will make even the grumpiest of lactose intolerant people happy and warm. 

What you’ll need:

• 30 ml white crème de cacao
• 30 ml crème de menthe
• 30 ml regular coconut milk
• Mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Add ice, crème de cacao, crème de menthe and coconut milk to a shaker
2. Shake well, and strain into glasses
3. Garnish with mint leaves and serve

3. Vegan White Russian

Just because the gods have been unkind to you, you don’t have to keep dreaming about sipping a glass of White Russian. This cashew cream and vodka beverage is perfect for your tummy and holiday spirits.

What you’ll need:

• 30 ml vodka
• 30 ml Kahlua 
• 60 ml cashew cream (instructions below)
• 1 cup raw cashews
• 2 + 3 cups water
• 2 tsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cashew Cream Instructions:

1. Soak cashews in 3 cups of water for 4 hours
2. Drain the water and rinse cashews
3. Add 1 cup of water and the cashews to a blender
4. Blend until creamy
5. Add 1 cup of water, maple syrup and vanilla extract to it
6. Blend again

Instructions:

1. Add vodka, Kahlua and cashew cream to a pitcher
2. Stir well, and serve

4. Spiked Pumpkin Chai

This cocktail will tug at every desi’s heart with its chai and rum flavours. And if you are a pardesi in love with this desi land, the spiked pumpkin flavour will keep you rooted to your native country while giving you a taste of rich Indian flavours. 

What you’ll need:

• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree 
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 3 ounces light rum 
• 2 cups soy/almond milk 
• 2 Indian-tea bags

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients, except for tea bags, to a pan and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes
2. Add tea bags to it and keep aside for 10 minutes
3. Remove the tea bags, stir the pan’s contents and warm it for 5 minutes over low heat
4. Pour into mugs and serve

5. Vegan Eggnog

One of the easiest recipes to make, put your lazy partner or friend in the kitchen to whip up this one. All you need to do is collect the ingredients a few days in advance. 

What you’ll need:

• 375 ml aged rum 
• 125 ml Cognac
• 375 ml Sweet Vermouth
• 20 ml allspice liqueur
• 85 ml organic maple syrup 
• 1500 ml Silk Protein Nut Milk

Instructions:

1. Add everything to a pitcher and stir well
2. Chill overnight
3. Pour into glasses, and serve