Screaming Orgasm

The Screaming Orgasm is a decadent and popular layered drink known for its smooth, sweet, and nutty flavor profile. It combines vodka for a kick with the rich trio of coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and amaretto, creating a dessert-like experience in a glass. Often served as a shot, it can also be enjoyed as a larger cocktail served over ice. Its provocative name and delicious taste made it a bar staple, especially during the late 20th century.
Screaming Orgasm

Preparation

Preparation time: 2 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Screaming Orgasm is a creamy cocktail, often served as a shot but equally popular as a short drink over ice. It's considered a modern classic from the 1980s, categorized as a dessert or party drink due to its sweetness and indulgent character.

Serving

Served cold over cubed ice in an Old Fashioned or rocks glass, this is a sweet but potent drink with an alcohol content of around 20-25% ABV.
Serving size
approx. 120 ml / 4 oz
Alcohol content
Estimated 20-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Old Fashioned Glass
Glass treatment
None

Backstory

The exact origin of the Screaming Orgasm is murky, as with many cocktails that rose to prominence in the 1980s bar scene. It is an evolution of the simpler "Orgasm" shot, which contains the same ingredients minus the vodka. The addition of vodka provided an extra kick, hence the "Screaming" in the name, fitting the trend of fun, suggestively named drinks of the era.
Origin
United States, circa 1980s.

Screaming Orgasm

The drink is widely known as the Screaming Orgasm. A common variation without the vodka is simply called an "Orgasm". The provocative name reflects the drink's rich, decadent, and highly pleasurable flavor profile.
Original name
Screaming Orgasm
Alternative name
Orgasm Cocktail

Characteristics overview

It boasts a rich, sweet, and creamy profile with distinct notes of coffee and almond from its liqueurs. The texture is smooth and velvety, presenting a creamy brown color when shaken, making it a perfect dessert-like cocktail.
Flavor
creamy, sweet, coffee, nutty, almond, rich, velvety
Aroma
coffee, almond, sweet cream, vanilla
Taste balance
sweet
Aftertaste
sweet, warming, creamy, lingering
Fizziness
still
Color appearance
creamy brown, layered (dark brown to beige)
Texture
creamy, smooth, velvety
Seasonality
rich, decadent, all-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is intensely sweet and creamy, with a moderate alcohol presence balanced by strong coffee and almond notes. It is a completely still drink with no fruitiness, sourness, or spice.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This cocktail requires four spirits in equal parts: vodka, a coffee liqueur like Kahlúa, amaretto for nutty sweetness, and a creamy liqueur like Baileys Irish Cream.
  • Vodka30 ml / 1 oz
    A neutral vodka works best to let the liqueurs shine.
  • Coffee Liqueur30 ml / 1 oz
    Kahlúa is a popular and widely available choice.
  • Amaretto30 ml / 1 oz
    Provides a distinct sweet almond flavor.
  • Irish Cream Liqueur30 ml / 1 oz
    Baileys Original Irish Cream is the classic choice.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

You will need a cocktail shaker and strainer to combine and chill the ingredients properly. A jigger is essential for measuring the equal parts of each liqueur and spirit.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and mixing.
  • Jigger or measuring tool for accurate portions.
  • Strainer to pour the drink without ice shards.

Instructions

The preparation is straightforward: combine all liquid ingredients in an ice-filled shaker, shake until cold, and strain into an ice-filled glass. For a layered shot version, carefully pour each liqueur over the back of a spoon.
1. Fill an Old Fashioned glass with fresh ice to chill it.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
3. Measure and pour the vodka, coffee liqueur, amaretto, and Irish cream into the shaker.
4. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Strain the mixture from the shaker into the prepared ice-filled glass.
6. Garnish with a cherry or chocolate shavings if desired, and serve immediately.

Garnishing

While often served plain, a simple maraschino cherry or a dusting of chocolate shavings can be added for extra visual appeal and a complementary flavor note.
  • Maraschino cherry dropped into the drink.
  • Chocolate shavings dusted over the top.

Dietary Information

This drink contains alcohol, caffeine (from coffee liqueur), dairy (from Irish cream), and nut allergens (from amaretto). It is typically not vegan or gluten-free, so check liqueur labels for specific dietary concerns.
✓ Contains alcohol
✕ Caffeine-free
✕ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✕ Nut-free
✕ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a high-calorie cocktail, containing around 300-350 kcal per serving, almost entirely from its high sugar and alcohol content. It is not suitable for low-calorie or low-sugar diets.
Calories
averagely 300-350 kcal / 1255-1464 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
averagely 25-30 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
averagely 25-30 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect as a dessert drink after a meal or as a fun party shot to get the night started. Its sweet and indulgent nature makes it a great choice for celebrations or a night out with friends.
  • Party
  • Dessert
  • Night Out

Pairing suggestions

Due to its intense sweetness and creamy texture, the Screaming Orgasm pairs best with rich desserts like chocolate lava cake, tiramisu, or a simple vanilla cheesecake. It is also substantial enough to be enjoyed on its own as a liquid dessert to cap off a meal.
  • Chocolate desserts
  • Tiramisu
  • Cheesecake
  • As a standalone liquid dessert

Screaming Orgasm: A Decadent Dessert Cocktail

The Screaming Orgasm is a famously named and decadent cocktail that captures the fun and excess of the 1980s bar scene. A perfectly balanced blend of vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and amaretto results in a profoundly sweet, creamy, and nutty drink. While it can be made as a layered shot, it shines as a dessert cocktail served over ice. Its rich flavor profile and smooth texture make it a memorable and indulgent treat for those with a sweet tooth.

Similar cocktails

B-52

A classic layered shot with coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and Grand Marnier instead of amaretto and vodka.

Mudslide

A similar creamy drink with vodka, coffee liqueur, and Irish cream, often blended with ice cream.

White Russian

A simpler classic featuring vodka, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream instead of Irish cream and amaretto.

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