Friar Tuck Cocktails

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/30/21
Friar Tuck Cocktails in glasses

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

A creamy and delightful cocktail recipe featuring Frangelico, the Friar Tuck No. 1 is one of those fun throwback drinks (likely) from the 1980s. But wait! You might also want to try the Friar Tuck No. 2. It's one of the most common variations of the original drink, though there are many more that have been devised over the years.

They're entirely different, but the one ingredient that each recipe has in common is Frangelico, the hazelnut liqueur first created by Italian monks (the bottle is still adorned with a rope belt and this connection led to the drink's name). In the Friar Tuck No. 1, Frangelico is paired with dark crème de cacao and cream while the Friar Tuck No. 2 has lemon juice, grenadine, and (usually) brandy. Both are good drinks and there's a Friar Tuck for whatever mood you're in, whether that's chocolate and cream or soft and fruity.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce hazelnut liqueur

  • 1 ounce dark crème de cacao liqueur

  • 2 ounces cream

  • Grated or ground nutmeg, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Friar Tuck Cocktails in glasses and nutmeg in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the hazelnut and chocolate liqueurs along with the cream.

    cream, hazelnut and chocolate liqueurs in glasses and a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Fill with ice, and shake well.

    shake the cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Friar Tuck Cocktails in a glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Dust with nutmeg. Serve and enjoy.

    Friar Tuck Cocktails dusted with nutmeg and nutmeg in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Recipe Variation

  • The Friar Tuck No. 2 is the other popular version of this drink. To make it, combine 1 1/2 ounces Frangelico, 2 teaspoons brandy (optional, but preferred), 1 ounce lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon grenadine. Shake and strain. It's often garnished with a maraschino cherry.
  • No matter which recipe you use, the Friar Tuck also makes a very tasty shooter for parties. You'll likely need to divide it into two or three shot glasses.
  • Sometimes, people blend the Friar Tuck No. 2 with 1/2 cup of ice and garnish it with an orange slice. It's also been made in a collins glass over cracked ice, topped with club soda, and garnished with a lemon wheel. Neither of these recipes is considered "original."

Tips

  • Either Friar Tuck can be served in a chilled cocktail glass or ice-filled old-fashioned glass. One common bar folktale says that a "V-shaped" glass (like a cocktail glass) is used because it represents a monastic head covering.
  • Give the No. 1 recipe a lighter mouthfeel by substituting the cream with milk or half and half. Some variations even split the 2 ounces of cream (or half and half) with 1 ounce of milk while others use just 1 ounce of half and half.

How Strong Is a Friar Tuck?

The Friar Tuck is almost always a gentle drink, which is a perfect tribute for the monk who hung out with Robin Hood. You can expect the Friar Tuck No. 1 to have an alcohol content around 11 percent ABV (22 proof) and its "No. 2" companion to be about 14 percent ABV (28 proof) with the brandy. That makes them as strong as the average wine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
394 Calories
22g Fat
28g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 394
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Cholesterol 67mg 22%
Sodium 19mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 41mg 3%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 69mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)