What ingredients are in a B-52?

1/3 Baileys Irish Cream, 1/3 Grand Marnier, 1/4 Kahlúa

What glass do you use for a B-52?

A B-52 is traditionally served in a Schnapsglas.

How strong is a B-52?

A B-52 has an estimated ABV of 19,29%.

How many calories are in a B-52?

A B-52 contains approximately 84 calories per serving.

What makes the B-52 an IBA official cocktail?

The B-52 is recognized by the International Bartenders Association (IBA) as an official cocktail, celebrated for its dramatic layered presentation and its role in establishing the layered shot as a legitimate cocktail technique. The three layers of Kahlúa, Baileys Irish Cream, and Grand Marnier must be poured in sequence over the back of a spoon to maintain their distinct densities.

How do you properly layer a B-52 shot?

To layer a B-52, first pour Kahlúa as the base (densest), then slowly float Baileys Irish Cream over the back of a bar spoon on top of the Kahlúa, and finally float Grand Marnier as the top layer. Each pour must be slow and precise; the spoon disperses the liquid gently enough to prevent the layers from mixing.

What does the B-52 taste like when drunk as a shot?

When consumed as a shot, the three layers of the B-52 blend together to deliver a rich combination of coffee liqueur sweetness, Irish cream vanilla, and orange-flavored Cognac. The result is a sweet, warming, dessert-quality shot at approximately 19.29% ABV that is more complex than its simple three-ingredient formula suggests.

Kahlúa, Baileys Irish Cream, and Grand Marnier, layered in sequence within a shot glass, form the B-52, among the most recognizable layered shots in circulation. The careful stacking of the three liqueurs creates a banded visual effect as much a part of its appeal as its flavor. At roughly 19 percent alcohol by volume, the shot combines coffee, cream, and orange into a sweet, accessible whole. The contrast among the roasted coffee of the Kahlúa, the dairy of the Irish cream, and the citrus of the Grand Marnier accounts for its enduring familiarity.

B-52 cocktail in a schnapsglas — made with Baileys Irish Cream, Grand Marnier, and Kahlua

B-52

B52

Glas Schnapsglas

Schwierigkeitsgrad Easy

Kalorien ~84 kcal

ABV 19,29%

Zutaten

Anweisungen

Layer ingredients into a shot glass. Serve with a stirrer.

IBA NewEra

Der B-52 ist ein von der IBA anerkannter geschichteter Shot, bei dem Kahlúa, Baileys Irish Cream und Grand Marnier sorgfältig in getrennten Schichten aufgebaut werden — ebenso ein optisches Spektakel wie ein Trinkerlebnis. Mit 19,29 % ABV liefert er eine süße Kaffee-Sahne-Orange-Kombination, die reichhaltig, wärmend und sofort zugänglich ist. Der Kontrast aus Kaffee-, Sahne- und Orangenaromen macht ihn zu einem der bekanntesten Shot-Rezepte der Welt.

History & Origins

The B-52 shot was reportedly created by Adam Honigman at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada, though its precise origin is disputed. It takes its name from the B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft, consistent with the trend of naming powerful drinks after military hardware. First documented in the late 1970s or early 1980s, it became an IBA-recognized New Era Drink and remains one of the most widely ordered layered shots globally.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet roasted coffee from the Kahlúa, creamy vanilla and chocolate from the Baileys, and a warm orange brandy note from Grand Marnier. Palate: Each layer delivers a sequential flavor experience — coffee sweetness first, then a creamy chocolate middle, finishing with the orange-cognac richness of Grand Marnier. Finish: Warm, sweet, and medium-length with a lingering orange note.

coffee creamy orange sweet rich

Pro Tip

Pour each layer slowly over an inverted bar spoon to maintain clean separation, working from heaviest to lightest: Kahlúa, Baileys, Grand Marnier.

Verwendete Techniken

Schichten

Data verified September 2017

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