Gold Strike
The cinnamon shot with real gold flakes and 50% alcohol. Everything about its flavor, why you drink it ice-cold, the alternatives and the shot glass that goes with it.
A 50% cinnamon shot with real gold flakes
Gold Strike, also spelled Goldstrike, is a Dutch cinnamon liqueur from Bols in Amsterdam. The liqueur is clear, strong (50%) and full of 23-carat gold leaf flakes that start swirling when you shake the bottle. The idea is not new: as early as the sixteenth century, people in Danzig drank a herbal liqueur with gold, Goldwasser.
In the Netherlands, Gold Strike is mainly known as a shot in bars and at festivals. Because of its high alcohol content and sweet cinnamon flavor, it is a drink you consume in small amounts and ice-cold. The gold is edible and tasteless; it is purely for show.
In brief
Gold Strike and similar shots
Gold Strike comes in one version, the 50 cl bottle. If you like cinnamon or a strong shot, these are the alternatives.
Gold Strike
The one and only: clear cinnamon liqueur with swirling gold flakes. Shake, serve chilled and drink in one go.
Fireball
Canadian whisky with cinnamon. Less strong than Gold Strike, sweeter and with a whisky base.
Apenshot
Dutch liqueur with the flavor of the famous candy. Sweet and fruity, the opposite of cinnamon.
Dropshot
The Dutch licorice shot: sweet, black and mild. For those who prefer licorice to cinnamon.
Shake the bottle before pouring, otherwise the gold will remain at the bottom.
Sweet cinnamon, then fire
Cinnamon sticks
Warm, sweet cinnamon like in a cinnamon roll, followed by a sharp alcoholic kick.
Sweet and hot
First sweet cinnamon, then the heat of 50% alcohol. Ice-cold, it is smoother and more syrupy.
Long and warming
The cinnamon lingers for a long time and the warmth slowly sinks down. Hence the name.
Flavor profile of Gold Strike served ice-cold. At room temperature, the alcohol is much more dominant.
How to drink Gold Strike
At 50% ABV, Gold Strike isn't a drink to sip. Small, cold and in one go: that's the idea.
Ice-cold as a shot
Keep the bottle in the freezer, shake it so the gold swirls, and pour 2 cl into a shot glass. Drink it in one go.
Glass: shot glass →With apple juice
A shot of Gold Strike in a highball glass full of ice, topped up with cold apple juice. Tastes like apple pie and is much milder than drinking it neat.
Glass: highball glass →In hot chocolate
A small splash of Gold Strike in hot chocolate or coffee, topped with whipped cream. Wintry, sweet and with a cinnamon kick.
Christmas cocktails →Shots and cocktails with Gold Strike
Gold Strike is mainly drunk neat as a shot. These recipes and shots go well on the same night.
All shots
From Gold Strike to B52 and Kamikaze: all shot recipes with the right glass included.
Apple pie shot
Apple juice, liqueur and a cinnamon rim. Replace the liqueur with Gold Strike for a stronger version.
B52 shot
Kahlúa, Baileys and Grand Marnier in three layers. The prettiest shot to make.
Kamikaze shot
Vodka, triple sec and lime. A refreshing shot after Gold Strike's sweet cinnamon.The right glass for Gold Strike
A shot glass with a thick base that can go in the freezer, preferably made of clear glass so you can see the gold swirling. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Gold Strike
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
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