Famous Aptly Named Shots and Cocktails

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We all like a drink but some are not satisfied with a beer, a whiskey or a glass of wine. Some people like to push the boundaries of flavour by mixing up drinks to create a new experience in alcohol. Cocktails are not always that sophisticated, some are designed purely to get people drunk. Sometimes though, they can be performance art ‘ designed to create a certain experience. Here are some that truly deserve the names they are given.

1. American Flag

American Flag
American Flag

When poured into a glass, it is immediately obvious why this is so-named. It is a short cocktail of three different types of alcoholic spirit. 1/3 Grenadine which goes in first, next put in 1/3 crème de cacao and finally top it off with blue curacao. If they don’t mix and there is no spillage, you should have three clear layers of red, white and blue. The differing consistencies of each spirit means that it should stay this way as you drink it. It is typically consumed from a shot glass or a cordial glass.

2. Jägerbomb

Jägerbomb
Jägerbomb

A recent ‘cocktail’ (but not considered by some because it contains only one form of alcohol), this is the result of mixing Jägermeister with the energy drink ‘Red Bull’. The intoxicating effect of mixing alcohol with a high caffeine product has led to a lot of over-drinking with this particular drink and the ‘bomb’ part is certainly deserved. Jägermeister is a traditional German spirit with spices and herbs that ‘ though it can be consumed neat ‘ has found popular appeal as a mixer. There are variations on the cocktail; a more alcoholic version will use beer instead of an energy drink.

3. Baby Guinness

Baby Guinness
Baby Guinness

This small shooter is so named because it does indeed, look like a miniature glass of Guinness. However, it contains no Guinness and does not have its distinct flavour either. What it does have though is a coffee liqueur (such as Kahlua or Tia Maria) taking up ¾ of the shot glass (giving it that distinct dark colour) and then topped off with an Irish Cream type of drink (such as Baileys). Some cocktail bars will whip the cream to make it thicker and prevent it mixing too much ‘ making it look more like a glass of Guinness with its distinctive head.

4. Squashed Frog

Squashed Frog
Squashed Frog

It is understandable that it has this disturbing name when you see the layers of white (underbelly), green (skin) and red (for the blood). But it is made up of nothing so sinister that would upset PETA. Melon Liqueur, Advocaat and Grenadine in small doses and taken in a small shot glass. It is supposed to be knocked back quickly without thinking too much about the analogous name! Some have also compared it to a mini trifle.

5. The Zombie

The Zombie
The Zombie

Invented around 1930, this is so-named because the high volume of alcohol coupled with lots of fruit juices can be deceptive and turn the drinker into a ‘zombie’ for the rest of the day. It contains both dark and white rum, Bacardi and apricot brandy. It is topped off with pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice and the sugar is spread around the rim of the glass. All ingredients are mixed together except for the Bacardi which is poured on top. Some variations add a third type of rum into the mix.

6. Depth Charge

Depth Charge
Depth Charge

This isn’t a cocktail by traditional standards, but a rite of passage for a ‘stag’ (male on the eve of his marriage) to drink one as quickly as possible. It involves a pint of beer and a spirit of your choice ‘ the spirit is usually gin or vodka ‘ which can be tipped into the pint but traditionally, the shot glass with the spirit in is sunk into the pint so it sits on the bottom. It is called a depth charge for the way it sinks, much like the World War II anti-submarine bombs. An American variation is the ‘boilermaker’, a glass of whiskey dropped into beer.

7. Diesel (Snakebite and Blackcurrant)

Diesel (Snakebite and Blackcurrant)
Diesel (Snakebite and Blackcurrant)

So named because it is the same colour as industrial diesel (and probably tastes similar too) it is half a pint of cider, half a pint of beer and topped up with blackcurrant cordial. The headiness of the cider and the bitterness of the lager mix to create an unpleasant flavour (this on its own is called snakebite). The blackcurrant is added to take the edge off of the bitterness ‘ effectively turning it into an alcopop that is easy to drink in great quantities and leave the drinker at a greater risk from the ‘cider headache’.

8. Blue Aegean Angel

Blue Aegean Angel
Blue Aegean Angel

A mix of blue curacao, orange juice and vodka gives this long cocktail a serene blue-green colour. Aptly named because it is strikingly similar to the tint of the raging Aegean sea (the body of water that separates Greece from Turkey), it has a pleasant flavour that can be enjoyed on summer evenings as you imagine your Mediterranean cruise from Athens to Crete, Thira Town, Rhodes town and finally Izmir Port. Serve chilled with ice.

9. Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary
Bloody Mary

Arguably the most complicated cocktail ever invented due to the long list of ingredients. It starts with vodka over ice, add tomato juice, Worcester sauce, Tabasco, lemon juice, salt and pepper and then pour into a highball glass and add celery and lemon to garnish. Some variations add additional spices. The origin of the name is not certain, but convention dictates it is named after Queen Mary I of England. The flavour apparently is reminiscent of the taste of blood and its colour is certainly similar.

10. White Russian

White Russian
White Russian

Not Russian in origin, it is named for two reasons ‘ firstly because the main ingredient is vodka and secondly because it is a variation on the Black Russian. The Black Russian has vodka, coffee liqueur and ice. The White Russian has an additional white substance such as milk or single cream and served with ice.

Conclusion

Cocktails have always been a feature of up-market drinking establishments everywhere and cocktail barmen are forever attempting to create the next big think in the drinking experience. With so many new inventions coming onto the market, we have a lot more cocktails to look forward to ‘ and perhaps many of them will have similarly amusing names!

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