The B52 cocktail is a throwback classic—layered with coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and Grand Marnier for smooth, boozy fun. Whether you’re après-ski or just channeling some ‘70s lounge vibes, this shot’s got style!
From what I hear on the news, they tell me it’s winter outside. Okay, but it’s hard to think about winter when it’s a sunny 75ºF sunny day outside. And, yes, we Southern-Californians do get sick of the sunshine and warm weather.
Luckily for us, a trip to see snow isn’t too far away. In San Diego, you can always visit Julian or Mount Laguna and make it a day trip. For skiing, many choose to go to Big Bear or further north, Mammoth Lakes. And since my kids are off from school for one week every February, we try to get our snow fix annually.
I am not much of a skier, myself. When I was in college in Arizona, my friends and I would sometimes go skiing and play in the snow. That is when they introduced me to their favorite drink to enjoy after a day on the slopes: the B52 cocktail.
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Recipe highlights
- Simple: It’s a simple cocktail, a shot actually, where you layer Coffee Liqueur then Irish Cream and lastly some Grand Marnier or Vodka. Because of the different densities of the three drinks, you get this lovely three-layer effect.
- Flavor: Unlike a shot of just vodka or tequila where you get a burn and not really a flavor. this shot is sweeter. I’m not a big drinker, but I do Baileys Irish Cream. The mix of the three liqueurs not only gives you a big kick in the pants, but it also tastes great!
Ingredients you need
- Coffee Liqueuer: The densest layer is the coffee liqueur, like Kahlua.
- Irish Cream: The second layer is Irish cream. It’s not as dense as the coffee layer, but can hold up the final layer on top of it.
- Grand Marnier or Vodka: Grand Marnier gives you a hint of orange. I learned this drink by using vodka.
Step-by-step directions
The whole point of this cocktail is to present it to the drinker as a layered drink. The best way to serve it is in a shot glass. We love using these tall shot glasses that show off the layered look even better.
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- Add coffee liqueur. If serving this drink in a test tube, do use a funnel. Very carefully, pour in the coffee liqueur.
- Add Irish cream. Slowly pour in the Irish cream. To keep from mixing with the Kahlúa is, it is slowly poured over the back of a cold spoon or drizzled in very little at a time.
- Add vodka. The final layer, whether it is vodka or Grand Marnier, is poured similarly over the Irish Cream.
Recipe tips and FAQs
The B52 cocktail should not be sipped because all you would be sipping is whatever is on top (vodka or grand marnier). You could stir the drink, but then you lose the lovely layered look of the cocktail. This drink is specifically meant to be taken as a shot.
You can enjoy this cocktail anytime of the year, but we personally love it during cold weather. Whatever the weather forecast predicts, this drink will definitely warm you up! Cheers!
Some other cocktails that I have that can be taken as a shot include my very unique and delicious finger lime kamikaze cocktail shots with mint and olive oil – don’t knock an olive oil cocktail til you try it! And of course, you can learn how to make homemade limoncello, an Italian favorite!
It is apparently named after the band and not the bomber. Something about the tall beehive hair style that this cocktail resembled. It’s a simple cocktail, a shot actually, where you layer Coffee Liqueur with Irish Cream over it and lastly some Grand Marnier. Vodka can be used for the final layer, as well. Because of the different densities of the three drinks, you get this lovely three-layer effect.
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The B52 Cocktail
Ingredients
- ½ ounce Kahlua
- ½ ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream
- ½ ounce Vodka
Instructions
- In a shot glass, pour in the Kahlua.
- Slowly pour in the Baileys.
- Top off with Vodka.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Written by Laura Bashar
Hi, I’m Laura, a certified professional cook and cookbook author living in San Diego. I have been sharing my family’s favorite recipes inspired from all over the world since 2008. Let’s cook up something fun!
Love that glass! I’ve never made this drink — but I’ve had it on my “list” forever. Maybe for my next summer sippin’ series I’ll do shots and layered drinks. 🙂 Anyway, this looks great — thanks.
Hi John-
I love Bailey’s and that helps keep this shot drinkable for me!
Laura