Fruitcakes are liquor-laced desserts popular during the Christmas season. While its fruit ingredients are marinated in rum or whiskey and the cake is repeatedly brushed with the same alcoholic drink after baking for a longer shelf life, those who eat it don’t get drunk because its proof strength or alcohol by volume is low.

There are foods infused with spirits that can be intoxicating though. Some commercial ice creams are laced with rum, vodka, whiskey, tequila, or wine, such as the cognac-infused popsicles BuzzBar and Haagen-Dazs Spirits Collection.

The latest twist in alcoholic desserts is from Ligao City in Albay province.

Local Melvin Sinson’s delicacy was recently featured in the “I-Juander” TV show. As coconut trees are abundant locally, strong gin derived from the nut called lambanog is a staple alcoholic drink that Sinson uses in his desserts.

In I-Juander’s latest episode, Sinson and his wife were shown preparing the popular dessert, first pouring milk into a glass bowl, followed by a jigger of lambanog. Other ingredients are then placed on top of the mix, including shaved ice.

Customers who tried the lambanog halo-halo liked its bittersweet flavor.

The only drawback to the Sinsons’ novel product is that it cannot be sold to minors or customers under 18 years old.