DrinkWire is Liquor.com’s showcase for the best articles, recipes and reviews from the web’s top writers and bloggers. In this post, Paula Lukas offers a boozy dessert.

"I need you tonight ‘cause I'm not sleeping." Almost everyone has difficulty falling asleep on occasion. Each person has their own remedy, want or need to help them sleep. One of mine is chocolate and liquor. Delicious on their own but also a great combination for a cocktail! Yes, it's been done before but this is my version!

The 80's were an amazing time for me. Also known as The Decade of Excess . I think a dessert cocktail should be rich, decadent and sexy. An 80’s icon, Michael Hutchence of INXS was all that and more. Smooth and cool like this cocktail. You'll have sweet dreams after drinking this!

The base spirit of my cocktail is New York Distilling Company's Mister Katz's Rock & Rye. A young rye mixed with rock candy, sour cherries, citrus and cinnamon. Rock & Rye pretty much disappeared after prohibition . Producers used to claim it had medicinal qualities. It could cure what ails you. Rock & Rye came about because the rye whiskey that was produced years ago was pretty much undrinkable so bartenders would put in rock candy to make it more palatable. It got a resurgence a few years ago from a few producers and it’s really delicious.

Next, I add some sweetness; Marie Brizard Chocolat Royal. The smooth, rich flavor of dark chocolate can go with just about anything; seriously anything. One of my favorite desserts is chocolate fondue. I remember a time I had it in France with fresh pears and it was absolutely heavenly. Marie Brizardard Pear William has the delicious taste of ripe, fruity pears from Alsace. It’s a perfect combination of flavors. What also goes perfectly well with chocolate? Vanilla! A few drops of vanilla extract and a pinch of vanilla bean sea salt really enhance the cocktail. I then rim the glass with more vanilla bean sea salt, gold sugar crystals and then garnish with some coconut flakes. It’s truly delicious!

Have trouble sleeping sometimes? Everybody does. That’s ok. "So slide over here and give me a moment". Have a Need You Tonight cocktail; It’s one of my kind. After enjoying one, I’m sure it will be one of yours too. Cheers and sweet dreams.

NEED YOU TONIGHT

• 1.5 oz Mister Katz’s Rock & Rye
• 1.5 oz Marie Brizard Chocolat Royal
• .5 oz Marie Brizard Pear William
• 2 dashes of vanilla extract
• 1 tsp vanilla bean sea salt
• 1 tsp gold sugar crystals
• 1 tsp dried coconut flakes

Combine rock and rye, chocolate and pear liqueur, vanilla extract and a pinch of vanilla bean sea salt . Add ice and shake. Strain into a coupe that has been rimmed with vanilla bean sea salt and gold sugar crystals; garnish with dried coconut flakes.