When we were kids, a float was the best of summer — rich, milky vanilla ice cream in a fizzing glass of sweet, creamy root beer. But now, ooph, too sweet!

Enter the chocolate cherry bourbon float! It’s still very much a sweet, bubbly treat, but there’s some complexity too — the chocolate is a little bitter, the black cherry gelato a little tart, and even the bourbon has a wee, pleasant burn. To be honest, it’s like a boozy version of the dark chocolate cherry cordial candies our grandmothers always kept around. Super sophisticated!

Our tip: If your dad, husband, partner, friend with kids loves ice cream and is SO into bourbon, this is the perfect Father’s Day treat. It’s delightfully unfussy, and it’ll taste terrific after a steak. Go for a bourbon with some depth to it, that’s not too sweet, and not so spendy that you’ll regret putting ice cream in it. We’d recommend Basil Hayden’s. It’s smooth and full of dessert-y flavors — baked nuts, stewed fruit, cinnamon and the like. It’ll taste splendid in the drink.

Servings: 1

Ingredients

1 Tbsp chocolate sauce

2 scoops cherry vanilla ice cream

½ oz your favorite bourbon

2 oz black cherry Dr. Brown’s soda

Maraschino cherry for garnish

Directions

1. Pour the chocolate sauce into a tall sundae glass or soda glass.

2. Add two scoops of gelato.

3. Add the bourbon.

4. Add the soda.

5. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, and serve with a straw and spoon.