Apres dinner chai-tini

I love a good chai. There is something about the smooth, creamy, spicy, earthy goodness that soothes my soul. I've had many different varieties and brands in my 37 (sigh) years, but I most recently tried Zhena's Coconut Chai. I mean really, chai and coconut? Two of my favorite things brought together! Why didn't I think of that myself??

Since I've been experimenting with tea-tinis, I thought why not try it with this tea. But unfortunately, it didn't pack the spicy punch I was after. The first chai-tea-tini was a bit flat. So, I went back to the Maharani simple syrup I posted about back in February. That cocktail took a different spin, using rum and fresh lime juice. This one uses that same simple syrup, but the end result is utterly different. If you like creamy desserts and after-dinner cocktails that taste like dessert, this one's for you! 
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Ingredients

• 1.5 jiggers vodka
• 1.5 jiggers Maharani simple syrup
• 1 jigger coconut milk (I love the Thai organic brand, not shaken!)
• Cinnamon stick and turbinado sugar for garnish

To make the syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar (or 1/2 cup brown)
• 6 drops Clove essential oil
• 6 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil
• 6 drops Cardamom essential oil
• 6 drops Ginger essential oil
• 6 drops Black Pepper essential oil

Method

• Make your simple syrup by combining sugar and water in a sauce pan. Allow to boil and stir to dissolve the sugar. When cool add in essential oils and shake. 
• Combine fresh ice and all ingredients in a shaker 
• Shake it all about
• Make cinnamon & cardmom sugar by adding one drop of each essential oil to about a 1/4 cup of turbinado sugar. Stir or shake to combine. Rim glass. 
• Strain shaker into your glass and garnish with cinnamon stick
• Sip and contemplate the rain :)