Scudder Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Scudder is a compact, spirit-forward bourbon cocktail that leans into the modern after-dinner “two-bottle” style: minimal ingredients, maximum impact. You won’t find a long, well-documented origin story attached to it, but it sits comfortably in the contemporary tradition of pairing whiskey with coffee liqueur for a dark, warming sipper that feels both familiar and a little indulgent.
On the palate, bourbon brings rounded sweetness and oak-led depth, while the coffee liqueur adds a concentrated hit of roasted coffee character and liqueur-like richness. With only these two ingredients in play, the balance is all about contrast: the bourbon’s vanilla-tinged warmth meets the coffee liqueur’s darker sweetness, creating a smooth, slightly bittersweet finish that lingers.
Serve it in a cocktail glass when you want something short, bold, and unfussy—ideal as a nightcap or a quick post-dinner pour. If you like whiskey cocktails that stay firmly on the rich, dark side without citrus or fizz, this is an easy pick for quiet evenings, dessert-adjacent moments, or whenever you want a small drink that still feels substantial.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
Bourbon leads with warm, oaky sweetness while coffee liqueur adds roasted coffee depth and a dark, syrupy edge that lingers in the cocktail glass. This works because the coffee liqueur’s bitterness and sweetness round the bourbon’s heat without burying it, ideal for after-dinner sipping and for drinkers who like bold, minimal, spirit-forward pours.
Method
How to make a Scudder
- Bourbon 30ml, Coffee liqueur 10ml
-
- Put ice cubes into a mixing glass
-
- Pour Bourbon and Kahlúa over the ice and stir well to mix
-
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Scudder with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
How do you properly stir the Scudder cocktail to ensure it's well mixed?
To properly stir the Scudder cocktail, fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Pour the coffee liqueur and bourbon over the ice. Use a long-handled bar spoon to stir the mixture gently but quickly for about 20-30 seconds. This method cools the drink and dilutes it slightly without incorporating too much air, ensuring a smooth texture.
What is the ideal glassware for serving the Scudder?
The ideal glassware for serving the Scudder is a cocktail glass, often referred to as a martini glass. This choice enhances the presentation of the cocktail, allowing its color and texture to be fully appreciated, while also concentrating the aroma for an improved tasting experience.
Can you recommend a type of bourbon that works best with the rich flavors of coffee liqueur in the Scudder?
For the Scudder, a bourbon with a smooth, rich profile and slight sweetness complements the coffee liqueur well. A bourbon like Buffalo Trace or Maker's Mark is recommended as their caramel and vanilla notes harmonize with the deep, roasted flavors of the coffee liqueur.
How does the alcohol content of a Scudder compare to a standard whiskey cocktail?
The Scudder has an alcohol content of 35%, which is relatively high compared to many classic whiskey cocktails that typically range between 20-30% alcohol by volume (ABV). This makes the Scudder a stronger choice, ideal for those preferring a cocktail with a higher potency.
Are there any recommended adaptations to the Scudder for those who prefer a sweeter or less potent drink?
For a sweeter version of the Scudder, consider adding a splash of simple syrup or using a vanilla-flavored bourbon to enhance sweetness. To make it less potent, increase the proportion of coffee liqueur slightly, or add a splash of cream to soften the overall strength and add a creamy texture.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Enjoy this decadent chocolate-cherry bourbon treat
Chocolate Cherry Old Fashioned
Bourbon, Cherry syrup, Chocolate bitters, Aromatic bitters
Try this caffeinated twist on a classic cocktail
Coffee Old Fashioned
Bourbon, Aromatic bitters, Coffee, Maple syrup
Dive into this honey-kissed bourbon classic
Honey Old Fashioned
Bourbon, Aromatic bitters, Honey
Try this delightful mix of bourbon and chocolate.
Best Man
Bourbon, Campari, Chocolate liqueur, Red vermouth, Chocolate bitters
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we'll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we'll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments