The Buttery Nipple is a dessert cocktail shot that tastes as nice as it sounds naughty. A mixture of butterscotch schnapps and Irish cream liqueur it is mouthwateringly sweet and creamy.
Ideal for injecting some fun and flavor into parties, this is a shot that all mixologists should learn how to whip up.
Buttery Nipple Ingredients
This shooter contains just two ingredients: 1 oz butterscotch schnapps and a 1/2 oz Irish cream liqueur, such as Bailey’s.
As its base liquors have a fairly low ABV the Buttery Nipple cocktail has quite a low alcohol content (around 15.6% in total). This is no tequila shot, that’s for sure and there are no harsh flavors to contend with. Think of it as a fun alcoholic sweet treat, like a liquor chocolate but in shooter form.
The two ingredients should be carefully layered. The idea is to create a two-tone effect with a striking contrast between the colors of the two layers.
How to Make a Buttery Nipple Shot
1. Prepare the Glass
Start with a clean, dry shot glass. Chill it in the freezer for 10 minutes before pouring your shot. This step’s very important as it will affect the final taste and consistency of the Buttery Nipple.
2. Pour the Butterscotch Schnapps
Measure and pour about half of the shot glass with butterscotch schnapps.
3. Layer the Irish Cream Liqueur
Carefully float the Irish cream on top of the schnapps to create a layered effect. Gently pour over the back of a bar spoon or directly onto the surface of the schnapps.
4. Serve Immediately
The Buttery Nipple is best enjoyed fresh, so serve it right away after preparation. If you leave it for more than a few minutes the Irish cream will naturally settle into the rest of the drink ruining the layering effect. It’ll still taste great either way - it just won’t look as good.
Mixology Tip - Layering
Layering the ingredients is crucial to perfecting your Buttery Nipple. This is an advanced technique so don’t be disheartened if you don’t get it right the first time. Practice makes perfect, and it’s a great excuse to make even more delicious layered cocktails!
To layer this shot properly, pour the Irish cream liqueur very slowly over the back of your bar spoon into the shot glass. This helps to spread the flow evenly across the surface of the butterscotch schnapps, preventing the two layers from mixing.
Buttery Nipple History
There was a time in the 1980s when suggestively named cocktails were all the rage. Think Sex on The Beach, and the Slippery Nipple. Out of this era of fun experimentation in the world of mixology came the Buttery Nipple.
It shares a similar name as the Slippery Nipple and the two both feature Irish cream liqueur as a key ingredient, but they have little else in common. The Buttery Nipple’s “slippery” cousin has the addition of Sambuca and grenadine making it a very different shooter.
Final Verdict
Cocktail crafting should be fun and drinks like the Buttery Nipple are firmly on the silly side of mixology. So take a break from the classics and try out this party shooter.
It’s also a gentle introduction into the art of layered drinks before you move onto more complicated recipes like the B52 and the Malibu Bay Breeze.
