What more do you want than alcohol and ice cream? Maybe alcohol IN ice cream? How about alcohol scientifically uh, whipped into ice cream? Then you're going to be delighted by PROOF alcohol ice cream. They have been around for a few years now. In fact, I wrote some of the first stories (sadly lost to time so no links) on them in 2015, before they had their signature red freezers in retail locations, or big-deal shelf space at Lowe's Foods!
They've only gotten better with time and marketing, plus there are a lot more flavors of PROOF now.
So how does the alcohol get into the ice cream? The short answer is science magic. The longer answer is still quite vague. But it's "patented formulas and production techniques, PROOF is handcrafted daily using top-shelf liquor as a key ingredient to create a savory end-product with an unmatched creamy consistency."
That's the key, this isn't liquid-y ice cream that's got a boozy bite at the end, the alcohol is blended in and suspended evenly throughout the ice cream, again, using science magic. It's not soft, it's not hard, it's the consistency of any regular ice cream, but it has the light perfume and taste suggestion of booze within — though this varies throughout the flavors. Some are more obvious than others!
PROOF Flavors
Let's talk flavors now. They have a permanent and seasonal flavor collection, so availability may vary. My favorites involve chocolate, and the fruity ones that mimic my cocktails of choice, so mocha chocolate moonshine and coconut rum are tops in my book.
Moonshine plays prominently in their flavor lineup, and is also in their cheesecake, strawberry, pumpkin spice, peppermint, and blackberry flavors. Bourbon cherry chocolate is also on my list to find and try next!
The ABV in these ice creams is 7%. That's between the ABV of most craft beers, and a little less than most wine. You won't eat enough of this to get wasted. If so, you'll get quite the sugar rush! Upon opening a container of PROOF, you can smell a whiff of the alcohol in the ice cream. I recommend starting with a small bite of each flavor to acclimate your mouth to the flavor of alcohol. It looks like it's just a sweetly innocent-looking ice cream. After the first bite, it's easy to continue on, enjoying the flavors and sensations of this tasty treat.
Beyond the ice cream and the booze, one of my favorite parts of PROOF is that it's a woman-owned company, started by Jenn Randall-Collins and Dirk Brown.
You can find PROOF ice cream in freezers across South Carolina and Florida, usually in high-end liquor stores, Lowe's grocery stores, and even at some of the fancier gas stations (or ones that cater to college students and tourists). This is a far cry from the first time I heard about it in 2015. It came in a condiment cup sized serving from a local watering hole bar and grill nearby! If you are not in South Carolina or Florida you can get it shipped through their High Proof Club. Ice cream in the mail? Sounds better than bills and AARP notices to me!
Want more ice cream?
