This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
The Dirty Chai Cocktail brings together chai flavors, a hit of coffee, with Bourbon and Kahlua for a fun drink. Serve it hot as a Hot Toddy type drink, or serve it iced or shaken for an old fashioned or martini drink.
This is a great drink for fall and winter with those warm spices and flavors, but it can be enjoyed year-round as well. I love a nice iced chai mocktail on a warm summer evening.
I originally posted this recipe in 2012 as part of my chai concentrate recipe. But it was time for it to have its own space. So, I’ve updated the photos and the information for a better user experience.
We appreciate your support
Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.
But, wait, what’s a dirty chai?
Well, my not-caffeinated-enough-friends, a Dirty Chai or Red Eye Chai is God’s gift to the chai. Ok, maybe that’s a bit much, but it is delish.
It’s simply a shot of espresso mixed into a chai tea. And you can try the flavor combination in my Dirty Chai Bars.
When you can’t decide between your soy chai and a mocha latte, a dirty chai is the clear winner!
How to make
This is a simple Bourbon Chai Cocktail drink to make. First, you’ll want some delicious chai concentrate. I have an easy to make homemade recipe for you. Once you have that made, you can store it in the fridge and this cocktail is a snap to make.
And, yes, you can use a store-bought chai concentrate (like one from Walmart or Starbucks) for convenience if you prefer, but it won’t be as tasty! And I like the homemade one because you can customize it making it less sweet, sweeter, or spicier.
Then, you’ll just mix in the other ingredients.
This can be served hot or iced. Shaken or stirred.
You can use any milk you like. Dairy milk. Make it super rich and creamy with half & half. My usually choice is whole milk – not too heavy and nice and creamy. Or save some fat and calories and go with skim milk.
Use plant-based milk. I’m a big fan of vanilla soy milk in this or a super creamy canned full fat coconut milk. Oatmilk is so popular right now too, and it makes this like an oatmeal cookie.
That’s it! And cheers!
Can I change it up?
Of course, you can change it and make it different anytime you like.
Leave the alcohol out for a mocktail. Or add in one of those alcohol-free spirits.
Add in some amaretto, Tuaca, or another type of whiskey to change up the flavors.
Other great cocktail recipes
Everyone loves a good cocktail. And here are some of my favorites. Rob Roy, Hot Toddy, Cherry Scotch Sipper, and Orange Cinnamon Moscow Mule.
Let’s keep in touch
If you like seeing my recipes subscribe via email in the upper right.
Or, connect with me on your favorite social media channel for recipes, photos, & much more:
Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter!
And find my shop on Amazon for recommendations on cool tools
If you try this recipe,
please come back & leave a comment below letting us know how it goes.
Share a picture & tag @lifecurrents on Instagram.
Or you can upload a “tried it” photo (I would love to see)
via the pin.
Recipe
Dirty Chai Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 cup chai concentrate (recipe in the notes below)
- 1 cup milk any kind from dairy half & half, skim, soy, to almond milk
- 1 ½ ounce espresso or strong coffee
- 1 ½ ounce good bourbon like Bookers or Knob Creek
- 1 ½ ounce mocha Kahlua
Instructions
- Mix chai concentrate with milk. Add in espresso, bourbon, and Kahlua. Enjoy as a warm beverage or shaken with ice.
Notes
- 4 & 1/2 cups water
- 10 black tea bags
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 7 whole cardamom pods
- 10 whole cloves
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the tea bags, spices, and orange zest. Stir to combine, and remove from heat. Let steep 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove tea bags, and strain out the spices with a fine mesh sieve. Add brown sugar, honey, and vanilla. Stir well to combine.
- Concentrate can be stored tightly covered in the fridge for 2 weeks.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Leave a Reply