SHORT ’N SHARP

S T A R T E R S

A shot is one serve of a single type

of liquor. A shooter is a mixed drink of two or more spirits or kinds of liquor.

LAYERING. IT’S AN EFFECT WHICH IS DONE WITH EVERYTHING – FROM CAKES TO COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW. STYLISTS LAYER CLOTHES AND HAIRDRESSERS LAYER DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOUR COIFFURE. WHY SHOULD DRINKS BE ANY DIFFERENT?

The planet we call home is made up of different layers. Remember geography class when you learned about the earth’s crust which we walk upon daily, then the mantle which it rests on, the molten core and finally, the solid core?

Chefs talk about building layers of flavour in dishes they cook. Starting off with the triumverate of carrots, celery and onion, browning and caramelising meat – and ensuring that the super tasty crusty bits are not lost by deglazing the pan, often with wine. They then work their way through salt, pepper and a host of spices.

Bartenders or mixologists do much the same with shooters.

Firstly, it’s important to distinguish between a shot and a shooter – because, believe it or not, there IS an official distinction. A shot is one serve of a single type of liquor. Think about a cowboy busting his way through the swinging saloon doors and bellying his way up to the bar, spurs jangling. First thing he’d do is order a shot of whisky to rid his parched throat of all the trail dust from wrangling ornery Texas longhorns for days... That’s a shot. A shooter is a mixed drink of two or more spirits or kinds of liquor. Shooters are not always layered:

Most popular shooters

they can be stirred, blended, shaken or simply poured. The one thing shots and shooters have in common is that they are small in volume – usually around 30ml – and are consumed quickly rather than being sipped and enjoyed slowly, as one would a cocktail, whisky on the rocks or a gin and tonic.

Shots (and shooters) are acknowledged party starters. The idea being that a Jagermeister, peach schnapps, caramel vodka or jello shot down the hatch eases folks into the mood by breaking down inhibitions because everyone joins in – and either shares the pain or the fun.

With so many of these drinks given sexually suggestive names (you know what they are...), a handy tool for bartenders to remember the various components is a short acronym. For example, B.A.C.K – or Bailey’s Irish Cream, Amaretto, Cream and Kahlua.

Apparently in the United Kingdom and the United States it’s a well known gag for women on a hen party to make the brideto-be order a round of suggestively named shooters from the bartender – who is in on the joke, having been primed beforehand. The young Miss – and soon to be Mrs – orders a round– and the bartender cups his hand behind his ear, pretending not to have heard – and asks her what she wants. This happens a second, third and even fourth time until the poor woman is almost shouting at the top of her lungs for all the bar to hear! Great fun – so long as you’re not the one ordering them ...

If all the merriment is taking place around a domestic pub rather than in a public bar, it’s absolutely OK to substitute ingredients. For example, instead of Bailey’s Irish Cream many people locally use Cape Velvet Cream or Amarula – and the same goes for Mokador versus Kahlua. It’s still imparting the coffee flavour which is balancing the cream and almond flavours.

So what are some of the most popular shooters? B-52 There’s an obvious joke to be made about getting bombed on this one! The base layer is Kahlua (or coffee liqueur of your choice) with Bailey’s Irish cream or similar cream liqueur floated on it and the final layer is Grand Marnier, an orange flavoured liqueur with Cognac or French brandy as its main component.

The one thing shots and shooters have in common is that

they are small in volume – usually around 30ml – and are consumed quickly rather than being sipped and enjoyed slowly.

THREE WISE MEN Try the Three Wise Men: Johnnie Walker Red or Black with Jim Beam AND Jack Daniel’s. Sadly, one too many of these and you won’t feel particularly clever – or wise – the next day.

THE BUMBLEBEE The Bumblebee requires a steady hand to pour the four layers: The first being Cape Velvet, then Kahlua, then pouring cream and finally Stroh Rum. KAMIKAZE Finally, if you have a death wish, then the Kamikaze is one to try: vodka, triple sec and lime juice which are combined in a mixing glass with ice and firmly shaken until chilled. It’s a clean, citrusy hit, somewhat reminiscent of a margarita – but just shorter and with more impact.

South African shooters

A delicious example of a mixed shooter rather than a layered one is the Melktert. It’s a mix of supersweet condensed milk and evaporated milk that is then combined and shaken with vodka and finally dusted with a shake of cinnamon to give the drink its distinctive flavour. Warning! This one is really tasty and addictive. And on the subject of addictive South African desserts, there is (of course!) a version of the popular Peppermint Crisp Tart. It’s very similar to the Melktert in that condensed milk is used but it’s blended with fresh cream, vodka and then has some crumbled peppermint crisp instead of cinnamon on top of the drink. What about the Pancake? If you like cinnamon, this one’s bound to be a hit. The first liquor in the glass is the cinnamonflavoured Aftershock liqueur which is then topped off with your choice of a local cream liqueur – either Cape Velvet, Amarula or Wild Africa Cream. The sprinkling of ground cinnamon is optional. Black Cat might be a brand of peanut butter in South Africa but it’s also a shooter that isn’t for the faint-hearted! Brandy is the bottom layer, Kahlua next and finally Ouzo with its pungent aniseed spirit tops it off. Something the South African rugby team experienced was more than one Boot to the Head... but in shooter parlance this would see Drambuie and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey sharing the same shooter glass.

While on the topic of all things black, it would be positively unpatriotic not to mention the humble SPRINGBOK. (Very humble after the 57 – 0 scoreline versus the All Blacks – Ed.) Creme de menthe or peppermint liqueur with a generous pour of cream liqueur like Amarula or Cape Velvet on top. Or there’s the Blesbok which floats a cream liqueur on top of Kahlua or similar coffee flavoured base liqueur.

And what about a Blackout? (Something the Springbok team wish they could do after the All Black drubbing) Bailey’s Irish Cream (or similar), Jaegermeister and Kahlua or coffee liqueur. Anyone feeling particularly feisty could try a Brave Bull – Tabasco sauce and Tequila. It’s sometimes also known as Prairie Fire for obvious reasons. The mere thought of that combo makes the eyes water...