Reviewing Tipsy Scoop: Boozy ice cream in New York.
Why choose between cocktails and dessert when you can have both? Enter Tipsy Scoop, an ice cream “barlour” that scoops up boozy ice cream. As its website proclaims, “Tipsy Scoop blends the magic of an artisanal, hand-crafted ice cream with the mastery of a perfectly mixed cocktail!”
Founded by Melissa Tavss in 2014, Tipsy Scoop began with a pushcart and a passion for making liquor-infused ice cream. The first brick-and-mortar barlour opened in 2017. Since then, several locations in New York have opened, including in Brooklyn, CitiField in Queens, and Long Beach, as well as pop-up carts in Orlando, Fla., Nashville, Tenn., and Phoenix, Ariz. Tipsy Scoop is also available in grocery stores and available via nationwide shipping.
The grown-up ice cream shop scoops its liquor-infused ice cream with up to five percent alcohol by volume to adults 21-years-old and older only. The artisanal, freshly churned ice cream is infused with mixed cocktails, stouts, wines, locally-sourced products like cold brew coffee, and seasonal ingredients like fruit. The menu includes scoops, pints, ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, and ice cream cakes, with dairy-free and vegan options plus a handful of non-boozy and seasonal selections.
There are more than one dozen flavors, including Watermelon Basil Margarita sorbet (fresh watermelon, lime, basil, and JAJA Tequila Blanco), Churro Dulce De Leche ice cream (dulce de leche ice cream infused with JAJA Tequila Anejo), Dark Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel (dark chocolate ice cream with salted caramel infused with whiskey), Vanilla Bean Bourbon (vanilla ice cream infused with bourbon), and Strawberry White Sangria Sorbet (strawberry sorbet infused with white wine and elderflower liqueur).
Signature sundaes are based on classic and contemporary cocktails and include the (c)Old Fashioned (vanilla bean bourbon ice cream, orange and cherry garnish, bitters, bourbon syrup, and rock candy), Mojito Creamsicle (raspberry limoncello sorbet, spiked mint chip ice cream, whipped cream, gummies, and edible flowers), Boozy Breakfast (spiked hazelnut coffee ice cream, tequila hot chocolate ice cream, fruity loops doughnut by Donut Hut, and Cookie Crisp cereal), and It’s My Party (cake batter vodka martini ice cream, sprinkles, whipped cream, vanilla cone pieces, and a shot of boozy ice cream of your choice). For the indecisive, guests can order a flight of four of these six signature sundaes.
During our visit to the Brooklyn store, the friendly staff cheerfully walked us through the menu and proactively scooped samples for us to try. We ordered the Tequila Sunrise (mango margarita sorbet, strawberry white sangria sorbet, orange slices, cherry gummies, and strawberry agave syrup) and Cherry Bomb (a boozy ice cream float made with two scoops of vanilla bean bourbon ice cream and topped with cherry preserves, cherry hard cider, and cherry gummies).
Our boozy concoctions were efficiently made and the first sip had us hooked. Beware: these innocent-looking creations are strong. Not only did we quickly have a brain freeze, but we also had a buzz. The generous-sized drinks were a challenge for us to finish, so they are perfect for sharing — and that’s the scoop!