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Pirate Float is a stranger drink than its near namesake, the Pirate’s Float. It is made with equal parts vanilla vodka, beer, spiced rum and cream, built in that order in a highball glass. With the cream going in last and sitting on top, the float in the name makes sense.
On paper it should not work. In the glass it tastes something like a boozy cream soda with a malty edge. The vanilla vodka and spiced rum share a lot of the same warm, sweet flavors, the cream smooths it all out, and the beer adds a little fizz and a bready backbone. The recipe gives equal parts rather than fixed measures, so an ounce of each makes a short drink and an ounce and a half of each fills a highball comfortably.
Glass: Highball glass | Strength: Medium | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 2 minutes
Bartenders tip: Pour the beer gently and save the cream for last, adding it slowly so it settles on top for the float effect. A mild lager or cream ale works best, since a strong beer overpowers the vanilla. The original calls for Seagram’s vanilla vodka, but any vanilla vodka will do. Stirring is optional, and it is nicer to leave it alone so the cream and beer mingle as you drink.
