Irish Flag Shot
A layered shot in three neat bands: green crème de menthe, creamy Irish cream liqueur and orange liqueur. Minty, creamy and orangey, like a chocolate orange after-dinner mint.
shot · Approx. 27% ABV
The Irish Flag is a layered shot in three neat bands of green, white and orange, like the Irish tricolour, though it is usually read from the bottom up. Mint crème de menthe sits at the bottom, creamy Irish cream liqueur floats in the middle and orange liqueur sits on top. It tastes a bit like a chocolate orange after-dinner mint, and it is a favourite on St Patrick’s Day. The trick is all in the pouring: get the order right and pour slowly, and the layers stay beautifully separate.
Ingredients
15ml green crème de menthe
15ml Irish cream liqueur (such as Baileys)
15ml orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau)
Method
Chill everything: keep the liqueurs in the fridge for an hour if you can. Cold liqueurs layer more cleanly.
Green layer: pour the crème de menthe into a shot glass. It is the heaviest of the three, so it goes at the bottom.
White layer: hold a bar spoon or teaspoon upside down just above the green layer, touching the inside of the glass, and pour the Irish cream very slowly over the back of the spoon so it settles on top.
Orange layer: raise the spoon and repeat with the orange liqueur, pouring as gently as you can.
Serve: serve straight away, before the layers start to blend.
Tips
Order matters: layered shots work because the liqueurs have different densities. Sugary liqueurs such as crème de menthe are heaviest; stronger, drier spirits are lightest. Pour them in the wrong order and they will mix.
Slow and steady: the slower you pour over the spoon, the sharper the lines.
Use a tall, narrow shot glass: it makes the layers deeper and easier to see.
Watch the cream: Irish cream can curdle if it meets acidic ingredients, so keep fruit juices away from this one.
Sip or shoot: you can knock it back in one, but sipping lets you taste each layer in turn.
Variations
Brandy top: some bars use brandy or Irish whiskey for the top layer instead of orange liqueur, which makes it drier and stronger.
Green, white and gold: swap the orange liqueur for a honey or butterscotch liqueur for a sweeter finish.
Party tray: line up a row of shot glasses and build all the green layers first, then all the white, then all the orange, for a striking display.
A layered shot is meant to be admired and savoured, not raced. Please drink responsibly. Know your limits, and never drink and drive.