Sometimes we get so used to ordering our favorite drinks that we forget they're actually treats. An easy way to remind ourselves of what a nice departure from normal the cocktail can be is to embrace the richness of a good cream drink. By combining the smooth texture and versatility of cream with the potent flavors of spirits and mixers, these cocktails are the grown-up equivalent of a rally around the ice cream truck.

White Russian

Without a doubt the most commonly ordered cream drink at any bar (and likely the most common home-made) is the White Russian. We'll take this opportunity to talk about the proper way to build any cream drink. As is the rule for all cocktails, the heaviest elements go on top. In this case, that means starting with an ounce of vodka.

There's some debate about whether or not cream drinks should be shaken instead of built in the glass. Personally, I don't see why anyone who cares about flavor would build in the glass. No amount of stirring is going to combine the flavors of your drink like a few stout shakes. The reason people have a problem with shaking is because they're worried about watering down their drink. Of course, if you build it quickly the ice won't have time to melt and your drink will stay potent.

So, fill your shaker halfway with ice cubes, add one ounce of vodka followed by one half ounce of coffee liqueur, the most popular being Kahlua. Top that off with an ounce of cream and shake no more than eight times. Serve in a rocks glass with ice or up in a cocktail glass.

Grasshopper

The Grasshopper is, in my opinion, barely a cocktail. It doesn't include any hard spirits. Instead, it's built with two different kinds of liqueur that don't get much attention these days. Start with a half ounce of white creme de cacao, that's chocolate liqueur. Avoid the stuff with coloring in it. Half of the appeal of the Grasshopper is its visual. Next, add one half ounce of green creme de menthe, which is peppermint liqueur. This is where the color is going to come from. The stuff is practically neon green, but an ounce of cream will lighten it considerably. This drink benefits more than almost any other from the froth that naturally occurs with shaking a cream drink. Serve your Grasshopper up in a cocktail glass with an optional garnish of cocoa powder.

The Orgasm

How could I do an article about fun drinks without the obligatory dirty joke drink? That's not to say that this complex treat is a joke in flavor. The Orgasm is the exception to the rule about shaking. When dealing with this many distinct ingredients, a drink can benefit from layering instead of homogenizing. Start with any tall glass half full with ice cubes. Add one ounce of amaretto because it's the lightest of the three spirits in the drink. Follow that with a half ounce of coffee liqueur, then a half ounce of Irish Cream. Top it all off with your regular cream. It's up to you whether or not you want to stir, but it couldn't hurt to give it a few swirls. You can also start this drink off with an extra splash of vodka to make it a Screaming Orgasm.