Layered cocktails are the type of drink you can easily find at a restaurant or a bar, but when it comes to parties or drinking at home, it’s rare to see someone sipping on a layered creation. Why? We think most people probably assume that layered cocktails are too complicated to make on their own. Want to know the truth? Layering a cocktail is not hard, and if you put a little effort in you’ll be impressing your pals in no time.
Any drink recipe you choose will tell you the order in which the different liquors need to be poured. It all boils down to weight – the heaviest liquor goes in first and then one by one, you layer the lighter liquors on top. The only special tool you’ll need, aside from the glass you’ll be drinking out of, is a small spoon.
- Pour the heaviest liquor in the glass first. Try not to get any on the sides of the glass; just pour straight down the middle.
- Take the spoon and turn it upside down so that the bottom bowl of the spoon is facing up. Put it down into the glass and make sure it is touching the side of it.
- Slowly pour each layer over the spoon so that it rolls off and is able to float on top of the previous layer. It’s all about patience and taking it slow.
Ready to try your first layered drink? The B-52 shot is a classic and while it’s fairly easy to make, it’s also delicious and looks awesome.
- Pour 1/2 oz. coffee liqueur into a shot glass
- Float 1/2 oz. Irish cream liqueur on top
- Float 1/2 oz. orange liqueur, like Grand Marnier, on top of the second layer
If you’d rather have a full cocktail rather than a shot, you can just adjust the amount of these liquors to fill your whole cup.
If you’ve never made a layered drink before and you try it after this tutorial, take a picture and share it with us on the Drinking in America Facebook page – we’d love to see your creation.