B-52 (cocktail)
| IBA Official Cocktail | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Layered shooter |
| Primary alcohol by volume | |
| Served | Neat; undiluted and without ice |
| Standard garnish |
Stirrer |
| Standard drinkware |
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| IBA specified ingredients* |
|
| Preparation | Layer ingredients into a shot glass. Serve with a stirrer. |
| * B-52 recipe at International Bartenders Association | |
Stirrer
The B-52 (also B52 or Bifi) cocktail is a layered shot composed of a coffee liqueur (Kahlúa), an Irish cream (Baileys Irish Cream), and a Grand Marnier (in later versions replaced with triple sec or Cointreau). When prepared properly, the ingredients separate into three distinctly visible layers (due to their relative densities).
The name refers to the US B-52 Stratofortress 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.
One story behind the B-52 is that it was invented by Peter Fich, a head bartender at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta. He named all of his new drinks after favourite bands, albums and songs. This drink was, of course, named after the band of the same name. One of his first customers for a B-52 owned restaurants in various cities in Alberta and liked the drink so much that he put it on the menu. This is why this, the first shooter, is commonly believed to originate at the Keg Steakhouse in Calgary, Alberta in 1977. The B-52 is also rumoured to have been created by Adam Honigman, a bartender at New York City's Maxwell's Plum.
The B-52's widespread popularity has resulted in many variations, each earning a slightly different designation (see variations below for a small sampling). Altogether, 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.
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Wikipedia