Holiday Shots, Layers of Deliciousness in a Glass

Holiday shots can be a great way to greet your guests and start on a festive note or serve after dinner as a fun shot to continue the gathering. Layered shots used to be a big deal back in the 1980s and 90s. There were all sorts of shooters that you could order in bars across the country. I remember B52s, Lemon Drops, and the Slippery Nipple, to name a few, plus one I won’t name here as it still makes me blush to say it.

These Holiday Shots have many fond memories far beyond the 80s and 90s. Every Christmas Eve, when we were ending our marathon of shows at The Lion King (sometimes we did 16 shows in a row without a day off.), there was a tradition. For as long as this dresser worked there, he would bring in three liqueur bottles. He would make these shots at intermission on the last show before our Christmas break. (Disney thankfully never had a Christmas day show.) Everyone in the wardrobe, makeup, hair, and a few selected other departments who were in the know, would meet in the puppet room where he would be making these incredible shots. They were layers of Irish Cream, coffee liqueur, and peppermint schnapps. They go down like drinking a candy bar with a peppermint finish that cools you then warms you from the inside. It is hard to explain how that combination works, but they are delicious. Everyone was just a little happier in the second half of that show. All of us could deal with the dramatic performers just a little bit better!

It was a sad Christmas Eve the year after he left, and I never got his recipe. But I could figure it out since I knew which alcohols he used, and a little research in layering shots gave me my own version. Layering shots does take a bit of practice, I will admit using a pouring spout helps too, but not necessary. I managed without one, but I was being very careful. The trick to it is figuring out which spirit is denser. He used Kahlua, and I wanted to use Mr. Black, which has less sugar and makes it lighter than the Irish Cream. I had to re-arrange the layers to make them float correctly. I have given both in the recipe with different layers for each. I like Mr. Black, as a coffee liqueur as it has less sugar and gives these shots a less sweet finish. You can find it now in many parts of the country or on their website. It is made from cold brew coffee that they make themselves in Australia, and it is lovely.

For these Holiday Shots, I give exact measurements only as a guide. You want to just free pour into whatever shot glasses you have for this kind of shot. Most grocery or gourmet cooking stores have them if you want to find some pour spouts.  You also can get them here on Amazon.  (I get a small commission at no cost to you from Amazon if you use any link on this page, so please consider helping fund my food journey.) It is better to use larger shot glasses. If you need some, there are some great ones on Amazon.

That is all for this time. It’s been a wild couple of weeks for me with school (yes, I’m back in school and graduate Sunday! With a BA in Digital Photography, who knows where this is going to take me! I’ll continue the blog of course.) I hope you stay healthy, safe and think of others in your choices. We all need to get through this together. Finally, I want to wish all my old friends a special Happy Holiday at Lion King, and I know you are all going through that marathon right now. I don’t miss that, but I do miss the friends.

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Holiday Shots

Layers of Deliciousness in a Glass. A layered shot of coffee liqueur, Irish Cream, and peppermint schnapps. Like shooting an adult candy bar.

Course: cocktails

Cuisine: American

Keyword: layered shot

Servings: 1 Layered shot

Ingredients

Approximately:

• ½ oz Irish Cream Liqueur preferably Bailey’s
• ½ oz coffee liqueur Mr. Black, or Kahlua (Mr. Black is lighter than Kahlua.)
• ½ oz peppermint schnapps preferably 100 proof (It is lighter.)

Instructions

1. ½ oz Irish Cream Liqueur, preferably Bailey’s
2. ½ oz coffee liqueur, Mr. Black, or Kahlua (Mr. Black is lighter than Kahlua.)
3. ½ oz peppermint schnapps, preferably 100 proof (It is lighter.)
4. The key here is to layer, starting with the denser liqueurs up to the lightest. So, if you are using Kahlua, it is the heaviest. If you are using Mr. Black, it is second heaviest, and the Irish cream is then the heaviest.
5. Start by carefully pouring in the Irish Cream liqueur or Kahlua depending on what you are using.
6. To add the next layer, place a spoon right side up in the shot glass against the edge of the glass slightly above the first layer of liqueur.
7. Carefully pour the coffee liqueur or Irish Cream, depending slowly using the spoon as a buffer. You’ll need to pour slowly enough to prevent gravity from causing the Irish Cream to pierce the surface of the coffee liqueur, causing them to mix. The spoon acts as a landing and allows the lighter liquid to gently float on top of the denser liquid.
8. Repeat with the peppermint schnapps, again being careful to poor lowly and using the back of the spoon to soften the landing to create a third layer.

Recipe Notes

These measurements are approximate. You want to free-pour these shots to fit your shot glasses.