Pousse Café
Five liqueurs layered by weight. A nineteenth-century showpiece.
Layered · Shot glass · Advanced · about 2 minutes · about 30% ABV
Ingredients
- 7.5 ml Grenadine
- 7.5 ml Crème de cacao
- 7.5 ml Maraschino liqueur
- 7.5 ml Green Chartreuse
- 7.5 ml Cognac
Method
- Layer 7.5 ml grenadine
- Layer 7.5 ml crème de cacao
- Layer 7.5 ml maraschino liqueur
- Layer 7.5 ml Green Chartreuse
- Layer 7.5 ml cognac
- Serve
Tip
Pour each layer very slowly over the back of a spoon.
About the Pousse Café
The shot and layered family. Layered drinks go back to the 19th-century pousse-café, where liqueurs were stacked by weight in a narrow glass. Short party shots became popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Layering works because sweeter, heavier liquids sink and lighter spirits float.
Pousse Café FAQ
What's in a Pousse Café?
7.5 ml grenadine, 7.5 ml crème de cacao, 7.5 ml maraschino liqueur, 7.5 ml green chartreuse, 7.5 ml cognac.
How strong is a Pousse Café?
About 30% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 0.9 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is close to a straight spirit, so sip it slowly.
Should I shake or stir a Pousse Café?
Neither. Pour each layer slowly over the back of a spoon.
What glass do you serve a Pousse Café in?
A shot glass, about 60 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No shot glass? Use a small liqueur glass.
