By Julia Rocca Virnelli
Alcohol and ice cream collide at Tipsy Scoop in Long Beach, creating a delicious dessert for of-age adults to enjoy over the summer.
Melissa Tavss founded Tipsy Scoop in 2013 after years of carrying out her family’s tradition of ice cream-making. The original “barlours,” as Tipsy Scoop calls them, opened in New York City, and the Long Beach location debuted in 2021.
“Ice cream runs in my family,” Tavss said. “I had always been interested in perfecting my own recipe.”
When Tavss noticed her ice cream was coming out too icy, she added a little bit of alcohol to give the mixture a better consistency. Ever since, she fell in love with the idea of giving her ice cream a boozy twist.
Tavss moved to Long Beach last year and quickly became smitten with the beach city. Long Beach “comes alive in the summer,” she said. It was the perfect spot to open another Tipsy Scoop. Now, the one-of-a-kind spot not only runs a storefront on Beech Street, but also a delivery service that brings the treat straight to customers on the beach.
Tipsy Scoop kicked off its second Long Beach summer by partnering with JAJA tequila to create Cinco de Mayo themed flavors, such as Churros and Tequila, Watermelon Basil Sorbet, and Coconut Lime.
The “barlour” offers ice cream scoops, sundaes, sandwiches, and cakes, as well as pints to go. One popular menu item is the boozy ice cream “flight,” which allows customers to taste four different ice cream flavors – perfect for those who can’t decide on just one. People are able to “review flavors themselves,” giving them a more interactive experience, Tavss said.
Visiting with someone underage? No worries – Tipsy Scoop offers non-alcoholic scoops as well.
Signature Tipsy Scoop flavors include Dark Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel, Cake Batter Vodka Martini, Strawberry White Sangria Sorbet, and Mango Margarita Sorbet.
A Rosé flavor will also be coming out soon, a summer staple for Tipsy Scoop.
Tipsy Scoop’s spiked treats can be purchased online and delivered or shipped to your home – or spot on the sand in Long Beach. There are also locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Citi Field in Queens as well as a few other out-of-state ones.
For more food and drink coverage, visit longislandpress.com/category/food-drink.
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