The B-52 Cocktail might come in a shot glass, but don't let this college-looking drink fool you; it's delicious and a balanced drink that is perfect for the end of the day. It has the flavors of coffee liqueur, cream liqueur, and orange liqueur that is mild in strength but pleasure to drink.
Ok, I know what you are thinking. It's a B52 shot, how can it possibly be called a cocktail? Well, much like my Nuts and Berries Cocktail, it is also considered a nightcap. These are all liqueurs carefully balanced and layered in order to make an absolutely stunning layered drink.
A nightcap is usually the last drink of the day meaning you aren't drinking these to get buzzed. These are to be enjoyed as a final unwinding of the day.
So despite the fact that you might have looked at the picture above and had LMFAO's song Shots mentally playing in the background, this is actually the perfect after-dinner drink.
Cocktail History
Despite the fact that this is a shot and shares its name with a bomber used during the 1950s, that is not actually the history of how this drink came to be.
Most cocktail and food origins are lost to time or difficult to find sources, but this one seems less murky in origin. Peter Finch, who was the head Bartender at the Banff Springs Hotel is given credit for creating this cocktail. He named all of his drinks after popular bands, songs, or albums. Thus, this was named after the Band the B-52s, and not the bomber.
Ingredients
The ingredients needed to make a B52 Cocktail are simple. You'll need a coffee-flavored liqueur like Kahlua or Tia Maria, Bailey's Irish Cream, and an Orange Liqueur like Grand Marnier, triple sec, or Cointreau. You could also use triple sec, but you won't get quite the color contrast.
If this blog post has you super curious about layer drinks then check out this post about the different weights AND colors to create your own fun layered drink.
Watch Me Make a B52 (45 Seconds)
Variations
All named cocktails are essentially variations of a similar technique or recipe. The B-52 has several variations:
- A B 51 Cocktail uses Frangelico rather than the orange liqueur
- A B 52 Cocktail uses Sambuca rather than Irish Cream
- A B 54 Cocktail uses Amaretto rather than the orange liqueur
- A B 57 Cocktail uses Peppermint Schnapps rather than Irish Cream
- And a B 156 means you've made 3x the recipe in a glass, meant for just you. It might mean you are having a bad day. Or you really like this drink. And yes, this combination is just that drinkable.
Of course, you can play around with the ratios of the recipe listed below. The best cocktail is the one that tastes best on your palate.
About flaming cocktails
So odds are you've seen some viral video with a cocktail on fire, perhaps it was a flaming B-52. One thing that is not obvious is that you need heat-treated glassware to avoid accidents as well as a metal straw to sip such a drink. This flaming effect is done by adding a layer of overproof rum on top. For the sake of safety, leave this to the professionals.
Tips on making this
- Slow and steady wins the race. If you are looking for perfect layers you'll need to pour slowly.
- Use a bar spoon or a spoon you have already in your drawer to ensure you are pouring it slowly. Use the back of the spoon to add each layer.
- As a variation, there is no reason you couldn't throw all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and enjoy it chilled and combined.
- I used a measuring cup with a spout to pour this to keep the layers relatively clean.
- With time this drink will layer itself as the liquid tries to sort out the different densities in the glass.
- Once you take a sip, the layers will be broken.
- Feel free to play around with the ratio presented here. These layers are 1:1:1 or equal parts. But there is no reason why one layer couldn't be bigger than another.
A non-dairy B 52 cocktail
With one simple switch, you can make this drink nondairy. I know not everyone shares my affinity for dairy products, so there are ways to tweak this recipe.
The one ingredient of concern is Bailey's Irish Cream. Bailey's now sells an Almond Milk Liqueur called Almande that can be used in place of the Irish Cream. It is labeled as being non-dairy, but when I asked if it were vegan they could not confirm or guarantee that it was.
Even though Using Bailey's Almande isn't the most traditional, you can get some beautiful layers from this drink regardless of the fact that it does not contain dairy.
How to Make a B52 Cocktail
Step 1: Add the first layer, the coffee liqueur. For this recipe I'm using Kalhua.
Step 2: Add the second layer, the Irish Cream using a bar spoon or regular spoon. Pour slowly and add the liquid gently on top of the previous layer. I'll show you the side by side of how this compares to the non-dairy version.
Step 3: Add the third and final layer, the Grand Marnier or other orange flavored liqueur. Pour slowly and add the liquid gently on top of the previous layer.
Step 4: Now, I know a shot glass might evoke college-aged memories, but there is a way to enjoy a shot. If you just sip this, you'll get a mouth full of the top layer. Tilt it enough to get a sip of each layer.
Other Cocktails You Might Enjoy
The Ultimate Chocolate Martini
I hope you enjoy this B 52 Cocktail!
If you try this, would you mind hitting the “Rate” button? I’d love to know what you thought of it. If you modified the original recipe here, please let me know how it turned out. I love comments!
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B 52 Cocktail
Ingredients
- .5 ounce Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
- .5 ounce Bailey's Irish Cream or other cream liqueur
- .5 ounce Grand Marnier or other orange flavored liqueur
Instructions
- Measure and add Kahlua to a shot glass
- Measure Bailey's Irish Cream. Using a Bar Spoon or regular spoon slowly pour the measured liquid on the spoon and into the cocktail by gently resting the spoon against the edge of the glass.
- Measure the Grand Marnier. Using a Bar Spoon or regular spoon slowly pour the measured liquid on the spoon and into the cocktail by gently resting the spoon against the edge of the glass.
- Sip and Enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Slow and steady wins the race. If you are looking for perfect layers you'll need to pour slowly.
- Use a bar spoon or a spoon you have already in your drawer to ensure you are pouring it slowly. Use the back of the spoon to add each layer.
- As a variation, there is no reason you couldn't throw all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and enjoy chilled and combined.
- I used a measuring cup with a spout to pour this to keep the layers relatively clean.
- With time this drink will layer itself as the liquid tries to sort out the different density in the glass.
- Once you take a sip, the layers will be broken.
- Feel free to play around with the ratio presented here. These layers are 1:1:1 or equal parts. But there is no reason why one layer couldn't be bigger than another.
What a fun thing! One sip and I'd be asleep, but I'd ALMOST give it a try because it looks like such a fun thing to enjoy! ;->
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Hey Judie! Thanks so much!
A Beautiful cocktail. I saved it for when I have the ingredients to make it. 🥃
Hey Bernice! Thank you so much! You don't have to stick to the 1:1:1 ratio with this either. I was playing with the recipe the other night. The ratio makes it look really pretty, but if there are flavors you like there then you can absolutely add more. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!