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The art of mixing drinks is something that many people enjoy. Creating a layered cocktail, however, can be complicated and intimidating for beginners. This blog post will help you understand how to make layered cocktails! We’ll also discuss how the different types of alcohol affect how your drink looks in layers as well as some examples of simple layered drinks to try out.
Contents
Types of Layered Drinks
The idea of layered drinks isn’t a new one. The idea started back in the 19th century when the ‘pousse cafe’ or coffee push was created. This was an after-dinner drink that went with coffee and could include from three to right different flavoured liqueurs!
Pousse cafe may have fallen out of favour but layered cocktails haven’t. From something simple like the B-52 shot drink to the Miami Vice which mixes two other cocktails together, there’s loads of ideas.
How Layers are Formed
When it comes to making these alcoholic drinks, it is important to understand how layers are formed and why they work as they do. That means a bit of science!
Specific Gravity
The concept of specific gravity is one science principle that factors into how to make layered cocktails. In this, the heaviest ingredients go at the bottom and each layer builds on the next with the lights at the top.
Confusingly, there’s no hard and fast rule about a certain drink having a certain weight to it. Take the orange liqueur Triple Sec as an example. Cointreau is one of the most well-known brands, has an ABV of 40% and a specific gravity of 1.04. But other brands that have more sugar are around 30% ABV and have a specific gravity of 1.09.
Compare this to water, used as the baseline for all drinks. This has a specific gravity of 1.0. The lower the sugar in a drink, generally, the lighter it will be. This also means things like sodas and juices will sit below many types of alcohol.
This means it is important to plan your layers.
Planning your layers
As you look at a recipe, you will know what ingredients you want. Then if you want to be sure that you are using them in the right order, check out the specific gravity of any of them.
Sadly sometimes you just have to make the drink a few times to see how it works!
What are some common techniques to create layered cocktails?
Once you have an idea of what goes where in the drink, you will want to learn a little of the techniques used to create these drinks easily.
Bar spoon Technique
The most common way to make layered cocktails is with the bar spoon technique:
- Add the heaviest liquid to the bottom of the glass then put the bar spoon into it, pressing the nose of the spoon to one side and just touching the liquid
- Gently pour the next liquid over the back of the spoon, making sure it doesn’t splash and spill into the first layer
- Continue the process, using any other layers in order of their gravity
If you don’t have a bar spoon, you can use a spoon from the house or even a bottle spout.
Syringe Technique
This is for the more serious mixologist! You need a food-grade syringe and can use it to layer the drinks with much greater control than with a bar spoon.
- Add the heaviest liquid to the bottom of the glass
- Add the second liquid to the syringe to the amount required for the recipe
- Press the syringe against the side of the glass and slowly press the release
- Repeat with the other layers until finished
Always keep the syringe at a shallow angle to the first layer so it comes out as flat as possible and spreads rather than mixing.
Pouring Down the Glass
Some recipes will call for a different technique, the Tequila Sunrise being an example. Here you will make the cocktail in a specific way such as adding the tequila, orange juice and ice and stirring together. Once it is chilled and blended, then you move to layering.
Here you are adding grenadine which sinks to the bottom of the glass as it is very heavy. But you want to avoid dying the whole drink red. So tilt the glass a little and pour the grenadine down the inside. It will fall straight to the bottom, settle and create the look you want.
Tequila Sunrise
Grab the full instructions on how to make this classic tequila cocktail
Layered Cocktail Recipes to Try at Home
To help you experiment, here are a few cocktails to try at home that have a layered effect, most of which just go straight into a shot glass.
B-52
The B-52 cocktail is made with Kahlua, Grand Marnier and Baileys Irish Cream.
The Kahlua is at the bottom of the glass with a layer of Bailey’s on top before topping it off with an inch or so of Grand Marnier.
Bob Marley
The cocktail named for Bob Market features 1 part grenadine, 1 part Galliano, 1/2 part Creme de Menthe and 1/2 part over-proof rum.
Irish Flag
The Irish Flag uses a combination of Creme de Menthe, Grand Marnier, and Irish Cream.
French Kiss
This layered drink has vodka on the bottom, Midori in the middle followed by Chambord as its top layer.
Red White and Blue Layered Cocktail
This patriotic drink (well, if your flag has these colours!) uses 1 ounce grenadine, 3 ounces lemonade, 1 ounce vodka and 1 ounce blue curacao.
Colourful cocktails
The idea of a layered cocktail might seem a little unfamiliar, but with this step by step guide, you’ll be mixing drinks like a pro in no time at all. Give these simple recipes and techniques some consideration for your next event or night with friends!
