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B-52 (cocktail)
Encyclopedia
The B-52 is a layered shot composed of a coffee liqueur (Kahlúa
), an Irish Cream
(Baileys Irish Cream
), and an orange cognac (Grand Marnier
). When prepared properly, the ingredients separate into three distinctly visible layers. The layering
is due to the relative densities
of the ingredients.
long-range bomber
. This bomber was used in the Vietnam War
for the release of incendiary bombs
, which likely inspired today's flaming variant of the cocktail; another hypothesis centers on B-52 combat losses ("Burns like a B-52 over Hanoi
").
The origin of the B-52 is uncertain. One school of thought is that the B-52 was invented at the Keg Steakhouse in Calgary, Alberta
in 1977.
The B-52's widespread popularity has resulted in many variations, each earning a slightly different designation (see variations below for a small sampling). All together, the drinks are referred to as the B-50 series of layered cocktails.
The drink became a North London favourite in late 2009 when Arsenal
striker Nicklas Bendtner
changed his shirt number from 26 to 52, earning himself the nickname "B52" in the process. After the tall Dane scored the winner in a league cup
tie with Liverpool
on 28 October 2009, local Islington bars reported a huge surge in the popularity of the shooter. A barmaid at The Bailey pub on Holloway Road recounted a story from the night: "It was mayhem. One lanky bloke ordered shots for the whole bar after he [Bendtner] scored. I didn't even know how to make a B52."
". This method of the preparation is called "building", as opposed to blending or shaking, thus, B-52s are "built".
B-52s are usually served in a shot glass
or sherry glass, although a heatproof glass is required when a "flaming B-52" is served. First, a coffee liqueur, such as Tia Maria
or Kahlúa
, is poured into the glass. Next, Bailey's Irish Cream is poured very slowly over the back of a cold bar spoon
, taking care to avoid disturbing the lower layer as the second liquor is poured on top. Just as carefully, Grand Marnier
is poured atop the Irish Cream using the bar spoon.
Grand Marnier at room temperature will not ignite easily, so it should be warmed up beforehand or topped with an additional layer of a dark overproof rum
with 65-85% alcohol by volume. Such a preparation can be referred to as a "B-52 On a Mission".
Kahlúa
Kahlúa is a Mexican coffee-flavored rum-based liqueur. It is dense and sweet, with the distinct taste of coffee, from which it is made. Kahlúa also contains sugar, corn syrup and vanilla bean.-History:...
), an Irish Cream
Irish Cream
Irish cream is a cream liqueur based on Irish whiskey, cream, and other ingredients such as coffee, which can be served on its own or used in mixed drinks or as part of a shot or a whole shot. Irish cream is very popular in the United Kingdom and the United States. Irish cream typically has between...
(Baileys Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream is an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur, made by Gilbeys of Ireland. The trademark is currently owned by Diageo. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% alcohol by volume...
), and an orange cognac (Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier is a liqueur created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. It is made from a blend of true cognacs and distilled essence of bitter orange. Grand Marnier is 40% alcohol . It is produced in several varieties, most of which can be consumed "neat" as a digestif and can be used in...
). When prepared properly, the ingredients separate into three distinctly visible layers. The layering
Layered drink
A layered drink is a kind of cocktail in which the slightly different densities of various liqueurs are used to create an array of colored layers. Anywhere from three to seven layers are customary. Layered drinks must be prepared such that the specific gravity of the liquid ingredients increases...
is due to the relative densities
Relative density
Relative density, or specific gravity, is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a given reference material. Specific gravity usually means relative density with respect to water...
of the ingredients.
History
The name refers to the US B-52 StratofortressB-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
long-range bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
. This bomber was used in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
for the release of incendiary bombs
Incendiary device
Incendiary weapons, incendiary devices or incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus....
, which likely inspired today's flaming variant of the cocktail; another hypothesis centers on B-52 combat losses ("Burns like a B-52 over Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
").
The origin of the B-52 is uncertain. One school of thought is that the B-52 was invented at the Keg Steakhouse in Calgary, Alberta
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in 1977.
The B-52's widespread popularity has resulted in many variations, each earning a slightly different designation (see variations below for a small sampling). All together, the drinks are referred to as the B-50 series of layered cocktails.
The drink became a North London favourite in late 2009 when Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
striker Nicklas Bendtner
Nicklas Bendtner
Nicklas Bendtner , is a Danish international footballer who plays for Sunderland on loan from Arsenal as a striker...
changed his shirt number from 26 to 52, earning himself the nickname "B52" in the process. After the tall Dane scored the winner in a league cup
2009–10 Football League Cup
The 2009–10 Football League Cup, known as the Carling Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by lager brand Carling, was the 50th season of the Football League Cup, a knock-out competition for England's top 92 football clubs....
tie with Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on 28 October 2009, local Islington bars reported a huge surge in the popularity of the shooter. A barmaid at The Bailey pub on Holloway Road recounted a story from the night: "It was mayhem. One lanky bloke ordered shots for the whole bar after he [Bendtner] scored. I didn't even know how to make a B52."
Preparation
There are special machines that can prepare a B-52 (or other multi-layered cocktails) in only a few seconds. However, an experienced bartender usually relies on the traditional, hand-made preparation. Cocktails with horizontal layering, like the B-52, are also called "Pousse CaféPousse cafe
A pousse-café is a style of layered drink prepared by gently adding each ingredient from densest to least dense in order to create colored stripes when the drink is viewed from the side. Some bartender guides list a drink containing, from bottom to top, grenadine, yellow chartreuse and green...
". This method of the preparation is called "building", as opposed to blending or shaking, thus, B-52s are "built".
B-52s are usually served in a shot glass
Shot glass
A shot glass is a small glass designed to hold or measure spirits or liquor, which is either drunk straight from the glass or poured into a mixed drink....
or sherry glass, although a heatproof glass is required when a "flaming B-52" is served. First, a coffee liqueur, such as Tia Maria
Tia Maria
Tia Maria is a coffee liqueur made originally in Jamaica using Jamaican coffee beans. The main flavor ingredients are coffee beans, cane spirit, vanilla, and sugar, blended to an alcoholic content of 31.5% ....
or Kahlúa
Kahlúa
Kahlúa is a Mexican coffee-flavored rum-based liqueur. It is dense and sweet, with the distinct taste of coffee, from which it is made. Kahlúa also contains sugar, corn syrup and vanilla bean.-History:...
, is poured into the glass. Next, Bailey's Irish Cream is poured very slowly over the back of a cold bar spoon
Bar spoon
A bar spoon is a long handled spoon used in bartending for mixing and layering of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic mixed drinks. Its length ensures that it can reach to bottom of the tallest jug or tumbler to mix ingredients directly in the glass. A bar spoon holds about 5 millilitres of liquid...
, taking care to avoid disturbing the lower layer as the second liquor is poured on top. Just as carefully, Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier
Grand Marnier is a liqueur created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. It is made from a blend of true cognacs and distilled essence of bitter orange. Grand Marnier is 40% alcohol . It is produced in several varieties, most of which can be consumed "neat" as a digestif and can be used in...
is poured atop the Irish Cream using the bar spoon.
Flaming B-52
For a Flaming B-52, the top layer is ignited, producing a blue flame. Filling the glass to the top reduces the amount of glass exposed to the flames, making the glass less likely to break, but the drink easier to spill. It is best to leave the flaming B-52 on the bartop and drink it through a straw. Once lit the drink should be finished quickly to avoid overheating the glass and burning the straw. Unless the flame is extinguished before drinking, a fireproof straw—such as one made of metal—may be preferred.Grand Marnier at room temperature will not ignite easily, so it should be warmed up beforehand or topped with an additional layer of a dark overproof rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
with 65-85% alcohol by volume. Such a preparation can be referred to as a "B-52 On a Mission".
Variant drinks
- B-52 with Bombay Doors, a B-52 with Bombay ginGinGin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
- B-52 in the Desert, a B-52 with tequilaTequilaTequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
rather than Bailey's Irish cream. - B-52 Gunship, a "B-52 on a mission" with absintheAbsintheAbsinthe is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from herbs, including the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, commonly referred to as "grande wormwood", together with green anise and sweet fennel...
rather than Grand Marnier. - B-52 with a full payload, a B-52 with a 4th layer of Frangelico and a 5th layer of Bacardi 151 rum lit on fire.
See also
- List of cocktails
- List of shooters