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Everyday Life • Food & Drink

B-52 (cocktail)

The B-52 is a layered shot cocktail, also described as a pousse-café, made with three liqueurs poured so they remain separated.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

The B-52 is a layered shot cocktail, also known as a pousse-café. It is made with three liqueurs poured to remain separated.

What it is

The B-52 is a classic layered shooter built from liqueurs of different densities. Its three distinct layers — coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and orange liqueur — create a visually striking drink typically served in a shot glass.

Ingredients and preparation

The standard recipe uses equal parts Kahlúa (coffee liqueur), Baileys (Irish cream), and Grand Marnier or Cointreau (orange liqueur). To assemble, pour the coffee liqueur first, then add the Irish cream slowly over the back of a spoon, followed by the orange liqueur in the same way to preserve the layers.

Serving and variations

The B-52 is served immediately after assembly to maintain its layered appearance. Variations may substitute Cointreau for Grand Marnier. In Canada, it is a familiar bar shot made with widely available liqueurs like Baileys, Kahlúa, and Grand Marnier.

In short

  • Three-layer shot using coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and orange liqueur.
  • Layers are poured slowly over a spoon to avoid mixing.
  • Commonly served in a shot glass as a pousse-café.
  • Popular in Canadian bars with standard liqueurs.
Canadian angle

The B-52 is a familiar bar shot in Canada and is commonly made with widely available liqueurs such as Baileys, Kahlúa, and Grand Marnier.

Quick questions

What is a B52 drink?
A B-52 is a layered shot cocktail made with coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and orange liqueur.
How to make a B52 drink?
Pour coffee liqueur into a shot glass, add Irish cream slowly over a spoon, then top with orange liqueur in the same way.
What is in a B52 drink?
The classic B-52 contains coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and orange liqueur, usually in equal parts.

Sources

  1. Barexpres — https://www.barexpres.com/b-52/
    Supports: Describes the B-52 as a layered shooter and gives a preparation method using coffee liqueur, Baileys, and Grand Marnier.
  2. Recitail — https://www.recitail.com/es/cocktails/b52
    Supports: Lists the classic B-52 ingredients as coffee liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream, and Grand Marnier in equal portions and provides step-by-step layering instructions.
  3. Sommeliers.mx — https://www.sommeliers.mx/post/b-52-el-coctel-en-capas-que-convirti%C3%B3-la-precisi%C3%B3n-en-ritual
    Supports: Describes the B-52 as a layered shot and notes common substitutions such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier for the orange liqueur.
  4. Wikipedia — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-52_(chupito)
    Supports: Summarizes the B-52 as a pousse-café with three layers: coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and Grand Marnier or Cointreau.