by Caroline Sumner

Created on: January 17, 2010

"Happy hour should happen twice - before dinner and after."

That immortal quote from my incredibly wise friend Christy, who is an amazing hostess and throws gorgeous parties. One of her secrets to a fantastic dinner party is ending the evening with a delicious cocktail, which can either compliment a dessert or stand on its own as dessert itself! I prodded her to give up a few of her oh-so-coveted recipes, and she was kind enough to oblige. Here are four of the most delectable cocktails I have ever tasted!

MUDSLIDE

This is an easy one. If you really feel like some chocolate, you can substitute chocolate vodka or use Choco Vine in place of the vodka, but I personally prefer just using plain Ciroc in this recipe to avoid going too overly sweet.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 measures Kahlua

1 1/2 measures Baileys Irish Cream

1 1/2 measures vodka

DIRECTIONS

Shake the Kahlua, Baileys Irish Cream, and vodka vigorously over ice cubes until well frosted. Strain into a chilled wine glass.

CHOCOLATE STINGER

Stingers are great because they are smaller, so they won't weigh you down, and they always include creme de menthe, which is wonderfully refreshing.

INGREDIENTS

1 measure dark creme de cacao

1 measure white creme de menthe

DIRECTIONS

Pour the dark creme de cacao and white creme de menthe over ice cubes. Shake vigorously until well frosted. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or lowball glass.

GUMDROP MARTINI

This recipe is wonderfully whimsical. Christy likes to float a few gumdrops in it, but I prefer to skewer them and let them rest on top of the glass to keep them from getting soggy.

INGREDIENTS

Lemon wedge

Superfine sugar

2 measures lemon rum

1 measure vodka

1/2 measure Southern Comfort

1/2 measure lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon dry vermouth

Gumdrops

DIRECTIONS

Rub the rum of a chilled cocktail glass with the wedge of lemon, then dip in a saucer of superfine sugar to frost. Vigorously shake the lemon rum, vodka, Southern Comfort, lemon juice, and dry vermouth over ice cubes until well frosted. Strain into the prepared glass. Dress with the candies.

RATTLESNAKE

Similar to an above recipe, though the presentation is a world away...

INGREDIENTS

1 measure Baileys Irish Cream

1 measure dark creme de cacao, chilled

1 measure Kahlua, chilled

DIRECTIONS

Pour the chilled Baileys Irish Cream into a shot glass. With a steady hand, gently pour in the chilled dark creme de cacao to make a second layer and then gently pour in the chilled Kahlua to make a third layer. Do not stir.

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