A Spooky Monkey Brain Shot

A monkey brain shot is a sort of gross, spooky looking layered shot that is perfect for Halloween parties. Despite its brain like appearance it has a sweet, tasty flavor. You’re sure to dazzle you are guests by serving this shot at your next spooktacular party.

What is a Monkey Brain Shot?

A monkey brain shot is a combination of vodka, Irish cream, lemon juice with a splash of grenadine. It looks like a brain floating in formaldehyde. Despite its grotesque appearance it is a sweet and flavorful shot.

Similar shots include: The cement mixer shot, Alien Brain Hemorrhage and Brain Hemorrhage Shot

Vodka is a clear and rather tasteless liquor. It has the reputation for blending in and taking on the flavors of the ingredients it’s mixed with. It does tend to contribute a strong bite on the back end of any cocktail it’s part of. It represents the formaldehyde for the brain to sit in in the shot.

Irish cream is a rich and creamy whiskey based liqueur. It has sweet flavors of chocolate and vanilla mixed in with the cream. It represents the brain in the shot.

Lemon juice of course is a tart and tangy citrus flavored juice. The lemon juice in this cocktail helps with the curdled brain look.

Grenadine is a bright red, sweet syrup. It’s is made from pomegranates although some people like in its taste to a sweet cherry syrup. It represents the blood of the brain in this shot.

Layering Shots

This is a layered shot. Layered shots are essentially drinks where the ingredients sit one on top of another.

The layering of the ingredients is possible because of the different densities of the liquids. Essentially the heaviest or most dense liquid sit at the bottom of the glass and the lightest or least dense liquids sit at the top.

Layering can be a little bit of a learning curve so that you have distinct lines between each ingredient or liquid. The key to a perfect layered drink is to very, very slowly at each liquid into the shot.

You will want to add them by pouring them very slowly over the back of a bar spoon which helps to break the fall of the liquid and make it sit on top of the previous liquid without mixing together.

When to serve this shot

This monkey brain shot essentially looks like a brain floating in formaldehyde. It is probably not one you want to toss together for a fun and celebratory backyard barbecue. However, it’s the perfect shot for any spooky occasion such as:

• Costume parties
• Halloween parties
• Murder mystery dinner events
• College parties
• Horror Movie Marathons

How to make this drink:

This shot requires relatively common and inexpensive ingredients. However, the layering does take a little bit of time. You can probably whip this one up and around 5 minutes.

Equipment:

• Shot glasses
• jigger
• bar spoon

Ingredients:

• .75 oz Vodka
• .75 oz Irish Cream
• .25 oz Lemon Juice
• Splash of Grenadine

Instructions:

Step one

Grab up your grenadine, Irish cream, lemon juice, vodka, bar spoon, jigger and shot glass to get started.

Step two

The first thing you want to do is add your vodka to your shot glass. Do this by measuring out .75 oz of vodka with your jigger and then pour that vodka into your shot glass.

Step three

Add in your lemon juice by measuring out 0.25 oz of it with your jigger and pour that into your shot glass with your vodka.

Step four

Next up is creating the brain effect with your Irish cream. Measure out .75 oz of Irish cream with your jigger.

You’ll want to add your Irish cream to your shot glass very slowly. This layered shot is a little different than others because the Irish cream is actually going to slightly curdle with a lemon juice and then fall to the bottom of the shot instead of sitting on top of the vodka.

You can add the Irish cream either with a pour spout, your bar spoon or even with a cap from the Irish cream you basically drop or sprinkle it in to the vodka and it will fall to the bottom.

Tip: if you find it difficult to layer the Irish cream in with a bar spoon you can use a syringe or a turkey baster to a slowly squirt the Irish cream into the vodka.

Step Five

Toss in a splash of grenadine to top the shot off. We like to use a pour spout on the grenadine and just add a couple of splashes straight in the shot glass. The grenadine will fall on top of the Irish cream.

Take a look at your spooky shot and then kick it back and enjoy.

Recipe