• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Gin Cocktails
  • Vodka Cocktails
  • Tequila Cocktails
  • Rum Cocktails
  • Whiskey Cocktails
  • Brandy Cocktails
  • Shots
  • Mixed Drinks

Occasional Cocktails logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Drink Recipes
  • Cocktail eBook
  • Shots
  • Simple Syrup
  • About
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Drink Recipes
    • Cocktail eBook
    • Shots
    • Simple Syrup
    • About
  • ×
    Home » Mixed Drinks

    May 16, 2023 by Kristin. This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Iron Butterfly Cocktail Recipe

    Jump to Recipe

    Looking for a decadent, coffee flavored cocktail? Try out this super easy three ingredient iron butterfly cocktail for your next after dinner sipper.

    closeup of iron butterfly drink in a rocks glass on a wooden table

    What is an Iron Butterfly Cocktail?

    An iron butterfly cocktail is a combination of equal parts Kahlua, vodka and Irish cream. The resulting drink has a strong bite from the vodka on the front end that is quickly mixed and smoothed out into a creamy vanilla coffee flavor.

    You may think this drink looks or tastes a little familiar. It is similar to a White Russian only instead of using heavy cream, will be using Bailey’s Irish cream. Alternatively, a mudslide cocktail has both heavy cream and Baileys combined with Kahlua and vodka.

    Kahlua is a very sweet and strongly coffee flavored liqueur. It contributes the deep brown color of the this drink as well as the sweet coffee flavor.

    Bailey’s Irish cream contributes a sweet and creamy flavor in this cocktail. It is made from cream, sugar and Irish whiskey. It typically has notes of vanilla and chocolate.

    Though all of the ingredients in this cocktail have alcoholic content. The vodka is the strongest three ingredients. However, it has the lightest flavor being rather neutral with just a bit of a bite.

    When to Make This Drink:

    This drink is sweet and rich in flavor. This makes it great to serve at times such as:

    • after dinner drinks
    • afternoon sipping
    • celebrations
    • parties

    Variations:

    With only three ingredients, there aren’t a lot of ways to change this drink up. However, here are a few ideas you can try:

    • Use a flavored vodka. Double down on the coffee flavor and use a coffee flavored vodka. Or add a little extra sweetness and use a vanilla or whipped cream flavored vodka.
    • Substitute the Kahlua. Kahlua is simply the most popular coffee flavored liqueur. However, there are others such as Tia Maria that you can use instead.
    • Shake it up. Though in the instructions below we prefer to layer the ingredients into a glass. You can add all ingredients to a shaker and shake them together before serving.

    How to make this drink:

    With only three ingredients, you should be able to whip this one up in 5 minutes or less. Simply add your ingredients to a glass and give a little stir.

    Equipment:

    • Rocks/Scotch/Bourbon glass
    • jigger
    • Bar Spoon

    Ingredients:

    • 1.5 oz Kahlua
    • 1.5 oz Vodka
    • 1.5 oz Irish cream
    • Ice
    rocks glass with ice next to a jigger and bottles of vodka, kahlua and irish cream

    Instructions:

    Step one

    Start out by gathering everything up including rocks glass, bar spoon, jigger, ice, Kahlua and Irish cream.

    Step two

    Toss ice into the rocks glass until it is filled up.

    measuring vodka out with a jigger

    Step three

    Grab the vodka. Use the jigger to measure 1.5 oz of vodka and dump it into the glass.

    measuring kahlua out with a jigger

    Step four

    Grab the Kahlua. Use a jigger to measure 1.5 oz of Kahlua and dump it into the glass.

    measuring irish cream out with a jigger

    Step Five

    Grab the Irish cream. Use a jigger to measure 1.5 oz of Irish cream.

    pouring irish cream over the back of a bar spoon

    Step Six

    To add Irish cream on top of the drink, place a bar spoon upside down in the glass just above the Kahlua and vodka. Then, slowly pour the Irish cream from the jigger over the back of the bar spoon into the glass.

    Use the bar spoon to give the drink just one or two slow stirs so that the Irish cream only partially mixes. Then enjoy!

    Recipe

    iron butterfly drink in a rocks glass surrounded by ingredient bottles

    Iron Butterfly Drink

    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Servings 1

    Equipment

    • jigger
    • bar spoon
    • Rocks glass
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1.5 oz Kahlua
    • 1.5 oz Vodka
    • 1.5 oz Irish Cream
    • Ice

    Instructions
     

    • Gather together all the items you need for this drink.
    • Add ice to the rocks glass until it is filled to the top with ice.
    • Measure 1.5 oz of vodka with the jigger. Toss the vodka into the rocks glass.
    • Measure 1.5 oz of kahlua with the jigger. Toss the kahlua into the rocks glass.
    • Measure 1.5 oz of irish cream with the jigger.
    • Place the bar spoon upside down in the glass above the liquid.
    • Slowly pour the measured irish cream into the drink.
    Subscribe for More!Join our newsletter for more drink recipes.

    Nutrition information provided is just an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.

    More Mixed Drink Recipes

    • Bailey's on the rocks in a glass on a wooden table with a bottle of baileys in the background.
      Baileys Over Ice
    • Bushwacker drink in a hurricane glass on a wooden table.
      Bushwacker Cocktail Recipe
    • French mule on a wooden table with mint in the mug.
      French Mule
    • Lager and lime in a highball glass with a lime wedge on a wooden table.
      Lager and Lime

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there, we are Kristin & Justin! After Justin spent over a decade as a bartender, we decided to bring that mixology online so everyone can mix up the best drinks

    More about us →

    Popular Cocktails

    • Tequila and sprite in a highball with a lemon wedge on the rim.
      Tequila And Sprite: The Margarita On A Budget
    • whiskey and cream soda in a glass with a cherry garnish
      Whiskey and Cream Soda Recipe
    • brandy and coke
      Brandy And Coke: Very Special Brandy Cola Recipe
    • Close up of a blue motherfucker drink with maraschino cherries and lemon wedge.
      Blue Motherfucker Drink (AKA Adios Motherfucker)
    • french kiss shot with ingredient bottles in the background
      Fun and Inappropriate Dirty Drink Names
    • Close up of a vodka sprite in a highball glass with lemon wedge on the rim.
      Vodka And Sprite

    NYE + Dry January Favorites

    • Hairy buffalo drink on a wooden table.
      10+ Big Batch Cocktails For Large Gatherings
    • Closeup of eggnog martini with ingredients in background.
      10+ Creamy Eggnog Cocktails
    • Champagne drinks in a grid - french 75, pornstar martini, blushing bride, thug passion.
      10+ Easy Champagne Cocktails for Celebrations
    • grid of - boozy hot chocolate, spanish coffee vampires kiss and tequila boom new years eve drinks.
      20+ New Year’s Eve Cocktails to Ring in the Year

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Join us!

    • Join our newsletter and get a FREE cocktail making cheat sheet.

    Contact

    • About

    Please drink responsibly.  Follow all local/federal alcohol laws.  We are not advocating underage or irresponsible drinking of any kind.

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 MrAnimal Media LLC

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.