RCR Opera Shot Glass 6 Cl - 6 Pieces
Bormioli Rocco Barglass Shot Glass 5 Cl - 6 Pieces
La Rochère Shot Glasses 6 Cl Assorted - 4 Pieces
Arcoroc Gin Shot Glass 5 Cl - 24 Pieces
Why the layers stay in place
It all comes down to density. The more sugar a drink contains, the heavier it is; the more alcohol, the lighter it is. A liqueur with lots of sugar, such as grenadine or coffee liqueur, sinks, while a spirit with little sugar, such as overproof rum, floats. Pour from heaviest to lightest and the layers stay separate, as long as you don't let them mix.
A few densities to remember: grenadine and crème de cassis are the heaviest, followed by coffee liqueur, then cream liqueurs such as Baileys, then triple sec and Midori, and finally spirits. Two drinks with almost the same density will always mix.
How to pour
Pour the heaviest drink directly into the glass. Then hold a bar spoon with the curved side facing up against the inside of the glass, just above the first layer, and slowly pour the next drink over the curved side of the spoon. The drink runs down the glass and gently settles on the layer below. Repeat for each layer, pouring more slowly each time.
A cold drink is heavier than the same drink at room temperature, so chill the bottom layer. Work on a stable surface and pour with a jigger or a small bottle with a pour spout.
The classics and the glass
A B52 is made with coffee liqueur, Baileys, and Grand Marnier. A flaming B52 has a layer of overproof rum on top that you set alight and blow out before drinking. A slippery nipple is made with sambuca and Baileys. A kamikaze isn't a layered shot, but people often order it as one.
The glass should be straight and narrow, hold 4 to 6 cl, and have a thick base. In a wide glass, you can barely see the layers, and in a conical glass they shift. A tall, narrow shot glass shows three layers clearly. Browse our shot glasses and read our article about shot glasses.
The right glass
The Arcoroc Hot Shot glass holds 3.4 cl and is straight and narrow, just right for three thin layers. The Granity shot glass holds 4.5 cl and has a thick base, ideal for a flaming shot. Find all sizes in the shot glass collection.
Arcoroc Hot Shot Shot Glass 3.4 cl (12 pieces)
Arcoroc Granity Shot Glass 4.5 cl (12 pieces)
Good to know
Can you set a layered shot on fire?
Only the top layer of overproof rum or absinthe, briefly, and blow it out before drinking. Never drink from a flaming glass, and use tempered glass that can withstand heat.
How do you drink a layered shot?
Drink it in one go so you taste the layers one after another. A B52 is sometimes drunk through a straw from the bottom up.
Which spoon should you use?
A bar spoon with a long handle and a small bowl. Read more about bar spoons.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a layered shot?
Pour in the heaviest, sweetest drink first, then slowly pour the next layers over the rounded side of a bar spoon against the inside wall of the glass. View our shot glasses.
What order should you layer a B52 in?
Coffee liqueur on the bottom, Baileys in the middle, Grand Marnier on top.
Which glass is best for layered shots?
A straight, narrow shot glass holding 4 to 6 cl, with a thick base.
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