Dark coffee at the bottom, creamy beige in the middle, amber orange on top. Built slowly over the back of a spoon, the B-52 is a small exercise in precision that tastes like a boozy caffè latte with orange zest.
¾ oz
coffee liqueur such as Kahlúae.g. Kahlúa · Tia Maria · Mr Black · Borghetti
¾ oz
Baileys Irish CreamBuy on Amazon →
¾ oz
Grand MarnierBuy on Amazon →
Garnish: None · Ice: Served up, no ice
B-52
Sweet coffee and cocoa, creamy vanilla and whiskey from the Irish cream, then warming orange cognac on top. Sweet, rich and smooth.
The B-52 is the classic layered shooter, and it takes its name either from the American B-52 bomber or from the band The B-52's; the drink's own origin is disputed. One popular account credits bartender Peter Fich at the Banff Springs Hotel in Canada in the late 1970s, who is said to have named his layered drinks after favourite bands and albums. Other stories place its invention in bars in Malibu or elsewhere, and none can be confirmed.
What is certain is that the B-52 became one of the defining party shots of the 1980s and spawned a whole family of variations, from the flaming B-52 to the B-53 and B-54, each swapping one of the three liqueurs.
Pour more slowly over the back of a spoon, keep the ingredients cold and stick to the correct order.
The classic B-52 is not. The flaming version is a separate variation and should only be made with great care, with the flame fully out before drinking.
Yes, although Grand Marnier's cognac base gives more depth and floats reliably.
The perfect sound
A layered, quirky party shot with plenty of attitude.
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