The Art of Layering Drinks

May 13, 2:01 PMNY Cocktails ExaminerSara Gorelick

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Derrick Schommer with his Blue Eyed Blonde

Many cocktail recipes call for many different techniques, which is something a cocktail novice may know nothing about. Strange words may pop up that seem to have no meaning behind them, or a cocktail may look really cool but you have no idea how to achieve the desired effect. So what is layering, why do bartenders do it, and how can you do it?

Layering is an important technique among bartenders to create a great look in cocktails, but also so that the cocktail may have an equal distribution of taste. When a cocktail does not need to be shaken or stirred, this process creates a layered look and a nice distribution of flavors.

Cocktail enthusiast Derrick Schommer of Everydaydrinkers.com loves to use floating and layering in his drinks. “I think there are two reasons for layering, one is for the best impact of the ingredients. Much like a fine wine, there may be an initial attack of sweetness followed by a sour mid-palate transition and finishing with, for example, a coffee flavoring. A good example being the B-52 where you're getting a sweeter orange forward flavor with a tasty rich coffee finish. Or, if you're like me, you can sip each flavor one-by-one for fun without having too much of a single flavor to be over-taken by the experience. Secondly, the layering can be about flare. A bartender wants their customers to "remember" them from the experience and visit the bar again sometime soon. Cocktails are designed to show off and make a visual impact much like that of the outgoing class clown in high school. A bright cocktail wants to be cool and stand out amongst the crowds of brown beer and red wines. A red-white-and-blue layered (pousse-café) cocktail, for the 4th of July, isn't about the taste, it's about the expression and experience of the moment.”

To layer, you build your cocktail in steps. A shot of this, two ounces of that, etc. Each component is added on one at a time, and is not shaken or stirred. Once you feel that you are ready to layer, the easiest way is to hold a spoon upside down over your glass and slowly pour the liquid over the back of the spoon so it falls off the side of the spoon and into the glass. The heavier the liquid, the lower it will be on the layering totem pole! Pour the heaviest (liquor with the highest density) first, and then the lighter ones on top. Another technique, called floating, is when you float just one heavy ingredient on top which sinks to the bottom. Here is a fun recipe by Derek below that is easy to make and looks great! Cheers!!

Blue Eyed Blonde by Derrick Schommer

• ½ Crème de Banane
• ½ Blue Curacao
• ½ Frangelico
Layer alcohol in order listed in the ingredients using a spoon to control the flow of liqueurs into a shot glass.