What’s the summer’s hottest ice cream lick? Think Tip O’ Whisky. 

It’s the latest addition to the Devon House I-Scream menu, coming this month to the iconic dairy retailer’s outlets across the island.

A combination of French vanilla ice cream and vanilla cookie crumble infused with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, the new dairy-meets-liquor flavour arrives soon through a partnership with CPJ Beverages and Scoops Unlimited, the company managing the I-Scream brand.

The idea sparked with CPJ brand manager Chieftin Campbell two months ago.

“We wanted to find different ways for persons to consume Fireball, which has a cinnamon flavour that is already a common taste in desserts so I thought it must be great to have it in ice cream,” explained CPJ brand manager Chieftin Campbell while taking shelter inside the iconic Hope Road ice-cream purveyor’s flagship store on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. “Fireball is sweet, spicy and warm with a bold, recognisable flavour profile and adds a great contrast to the creaminess of ice cream.” 

Amid sweet-treat-seeking patrons from returning resident seniors to mother-and-children pairs and lunchtime thirty-somethings in between filling the interior of the beloved Devon House flagship locale, Campbell is super-excited to see his brainstorm now just days away from launching.

“Devon House attracts ice cream lovers from every demographic. This flavour will appeal to ice cream lovers who enjoy a little spice and adventure, persons who enjoy fun over fancy and vibes over tradition,” he opined. “Our target is Gen Z and millennials: partygoers, festival lovers and beach and river lovers. People who love to socialise.”

In his current post for six months, Campbell shared that he was au fait with Fireball long before he assumed oversight responsibility for its marketing. “I actually liked it before I started working at CPJ as I found it unique. Whether it’s a shot or in a cocktail or dessert. What people may find surprising is that it pairs well with a number of other products.”

A sampling on-site at Devon House I-Scream confirms Campbell’s hopes for the soon-to-launch collab flavour becoming a summer sizzler.

“It is very smooth. I like the taste of it so much. It reminds me of Cinnamon Toast crunch and the alcohol gives a nice kick to it,” raved Caribbean Airlines flight attendant Isiah Barrow, two spoonfuls after an introductory taste.

Meanwhile, in welcoming ‘Tip o’ Whisky’ on the line of the dessert destination’s existing 14 flavours, David Radelein, chief marketing officer of Scoops Unlimited, revealed that “we collaborated with CPJ in the past and found them easy and willing to work on projects. In addition, they have been one of our suppliers for some time now.”

As to the evolutionary process to bring a new taste to market—which on average, sees three additions each year, in addition to seasonal flavours—Radlein explained it involves a six-step process towards meeting the goal of satisfying dairy lovers’ palettes. 

“We begin with research and development to come up with acceptable flavour combinations. Then, we have experimental trials. This is followed by sensory evaluation, sample selection, approval, and finally production,” he pointed out. 

Dearest foodies, should your taste buds be as piqued as ours, ‘Tip o’ Whisky’ arrives next month as a limited-edition flavour through August at Devon I-Scream seven locations at Devon House, MegaMart Kingston, Constant Spring Road, Sovereign North, Red Hills Roads, Victoria Pier and May Pen. Radlein remains open to extending beyond the two-month trial period: “Yes, it’s dependent on customer offtake,” he opined to Our Today.