The recipe
for your table
Pour the coffee liqueur into a straight shot glass as the first layer, filling it one-third full.
Hold a bar spoon with the rounded side facing up just above the coffee liqueur and slowly pour the Baileys over it.
Repeat this with the orange liqueur for the third layer. Pour each layer more slowly than you think you need to.
Serve immediately, while the layers are still sharply defined.
The story
The B52 is attributed to bartender Peter Fich, who worked at the Banff Springs Hotel in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the late 1970s. He named his creations after favorite bands and songs — hence the nod to the B-52s, or to the bomber the band itself was named after; both stories are still told. What made the shot famous is not the story but the physics: coffee liqueur contains the most sugar and is therefore the heaviest, Irish cream is in between, and orange liqueur has the highest alcohol content and is the lightest. That is precisely why the layers stay in place.
The right glass
For a B52, you need a straight-sided shot glass holding 5 to 6 cl — this is the one recipe where the shape of the glass determines the result. A tapered shot glass makes the layers run into each other; a narrow, straight-walled glass keeps them sharply separated and also makes them look optically thicker. Choose clear, colorless glass without texture: every facet in the wall distorts the boundary you poured so carefully.
RCR Opera Shot Glass 6 cl (6 pieces)
Arcoroc Vigne Shot Glass 6 Cl (6 pieces)
Twelve shot glasses — €41.90 total, free shipping from €50.
Variations & twists
The B52 has a whole family: topped with absinthe, it is called a B52 Bomber; with tequila instead of orange liqueur, a B51; and with blue curaçao on top, a B53. Replace the coffee liqueur with raspberry liqueur for a fruity version. In some bars, the top layer is set alight — do not do this at home: burning alcohol spreads unpredictably and the glass becomes too hot to hold within seconds.
Servingtip
Chill the liqueurs beforehand: cold liquid is denser and stays separated better. Place the shot glass on the table and pour while standing — in your hand, it always moves just a little too much. Didn’t get it right the first time? Empty the glass and start again; pouring more over a disturbed layer never works out.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a B52?
A straight-sided, colorless shot glass of 5 to 6 cl. View our shot glasses — look for models with straight walls.
How do you get the layers neat?
Pour each layer over the rounded side of a bar spoon held just above the previous layer. This slows the liquid’s fall and keeps the separation intact. No bar spoon? An ordinary teaspoon works too.
In what order do you pour?
Always from heaviest to lightest: coffee liqueur first, then Irish cream, then orange liqueur. If you reverse the order, everything mixes immediately.
Can you set a B52 on fire?
It happens in some bars, but we advise against it. The glass gets hot extremely quickly, the flame is barely visible in daylight, and you should never drink from a burning glass. It does not improve the taste either.
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