Head to head

Egg Cream vs. Ice Cream Soda

Egg Cream and Ice Cream Soda side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

Both have chocolate syrup and soda water. Only the Egg Cream has milk; only the Ice Cream Soda has half-and-half and vanilla ice cream. In parts, an Egg Cream is 1 chocolate syrup, 2¾ milk and 4 soda; an Ice Cream Soda is 1 chocolate syrup, ½ half-and-half and 6 soda. By volume, the Egg Cream is 87% mixer and juice and 13% syrup and sugar; the Ice Cream Soda is 87% mixer and juice and 13% syrup and sugar. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

They are about equally strong in the glass (both 0.0% ABV), and they hold about the same alcohol (0.00 standard drinks each). The Ice Cream Soda has more calories (about 537 against 161) and more sugar (65.4 g against 23.8 g). Both are built and served in a highball.

On the ratio map

SpiritVermouthCitrusMixerSyrupLiqueurEgg CreamIce Cream Soda

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.

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