B-52 Shot

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

A layered and creamy treat, the B-52 bombards your tastebuds with coffee and orange flavors.

When one hears the title B-52, what comes to mind? Giant planes, perhaps? Those flying fortresses and weapons of war that drop tons upon tons of their deadly explosive payloads from the sky, down upon the earth? In our world, especially in this day and age, one couldn’t be faulted for their brain to automatically think of the deadly bomber named the B-52 whenever tonight’s recipe is mentioned.

Is this layered and deliciously flavorful shooter named after the giant wartime plane? I used to assume so. But with most alcoholic drinks through the years, the B-52 is another mixture whose origins are a little hazy. I imagined a bombardier crew, coming back from a tough mission and hitting the officers’ club for a post-flight tipple inventing this shot. It’s a nice scene that plays out in my head, but unfortunately never happened in any recorded moment of history.

The most popular story surrounding this shot’s invention comes from Canada, and has absolutely nothing to do with planes or bombs, but rather rock n’ roll. Peter Fich was the head bartender at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada, and was known for crafting a cocktail or two of his own. A big music fan, Fich would often name the drinks he created after popular or upcoming bands of the time.

One night, according to legend, Peter layered Irish cream, coffee liqueur and triple sec into a shot glass and named it after a new group from Georgia that had fast become one of his favorites… The B-52s, which in turn had named themselves after a few of their members’ towering beehive hairdos. No bombs or planes here.

So the next time you get a chance to whip up some B-52 shots for your friends, you can reside in the comfort of knowing its inspiration came from the folks who brought you the “Love Shack”, rather than devastating destruction.

What is the Best Alcohol to use in a B-52 Shot?

Our recipe recommends some of the most well-known brands of spirits to use in this shot. Not only are these fantastic in their quality, but you won’t break the bank buying them either. There are other bottles out there to try, of course, but if you want a tried and true B-52, our suggestions won’t steer you wrong.

What Glassware Is Used?

Pop your shot glass in the freezer for up to fifteen minutes to give it a good chill. Your B-52 will go down smooth when it’s nice and cold.

Is this shot served on fire?

You can carefully light the top layer of this shot on fire as part of its presentation. This is completely optional, too. This drink is just as tasty without being served aflame.

Similar Shots to the B-52

Sometimes a shot is just a shot. A simple mouthful of your preferred spirit, quickly ingested to get the night rolling faster. But here at Twist & Toast, we’ve got recipes for a number of creative shooters that aren’t comprised of a single, lonely ingredient. If you got a kick out of the layered look of the B-52, as well as its creamy texture and taste, check some of these unforgettable slammers out and give them a “shot” this weekend.

• Blowjob Shot – This naughtily-named concoction is a delicious blend of coffee liqueur and Irish cream.
• Duck Fart Shot – Whiskey joins with Kahlúa and Baileys for a layered and creamy treat.
• Mini Beer – This shot looks like a tiny pilsner, but tastes like a milkshake.
• Baby Guinness – Another shot that resembles a beer, but is made of coffee liqueur and Irish cream.