Layered Cocktails Made Easy
Layered cocktails do not create new textures or flavors but make a beautiful presentation, showcase all the ingredients and could add to the drinking or eating experience as different flavors or temperatures are experienced in turns. Layered drinks have been made for a long time but this technique is still being used today in creative ways by molecular mixologists and chefs to craft fabulous cocktails and dishes.
A layered drink, also called a pousse-café, is a cocktail in which various liqueurs are used to create an array of colored layers. They have been traditionally made by carefully pouring slowly one liqueur at a time over the back of a spoon but this process requires practice, patience and takes a long time. The Cocktailmaster device was designed to make layered cocktails easy and fast for the busy bar, restaurant or at home.
The Cocktailmaster has been used by molecular gastronomy chefs such as Ferran Adria and Cornelius Gallagher. With Cocktailmaster you can craft even a 7 Layer Hurricane with multiple juices and types of rum. Chef Ferran Adria has been using the Cocktailmaster to prepare incredible beverages at El Bulli such as the two-layer sangria. And the Cocktailmaster also works great to make layered soups! Chef Cornelius Gallagher has used the Cocktailmaster to make a foie gras soup layered on top of chilled mango juice. Get your Cocktailmaster from our store and create your next signature cocktail or dish.
The Cocktailmaster makes beautiful cocktail and hot beverage presentations like the B-52 shot, Tequila Sunrise, Fourth of July, Irish Coffee and Macchiato. Layered cocktails are also great to showcase all the ingredients and show the guests all the work that has gone into its preparation. In other beverages and dishes, the Cocktailmaster is used to enhance the drinking or eating experience by tasting one flavor at a time. The Princeton cocktail, for example, starts off all gin and citrus, but the port at the bottom of the glass gradually makes its way to the sip changing the flavor. The layering technique can also be used to layer liquids at different temperatures to create a distinct experience.
The Cocktailmaster and layered drinks are based on the principle of liquid densities: sweeter liquids are heavier; drinks with higher alcohol content are lighter. To create layered cocktails, each ingredient is carefully poured into a glass or carafe starting with the densest liquid first and progressing to the least dense. If you want to change the relative densities of the liquids you are using, you just need to add sugar to increase density and add water (or alcohol) to reduce it.
M. Armand Basch, the inventor of Cocktailmaster, is an owner of a restaurant named ‘’Aux 3 Fleurs’’ (The 3 Flowers) sine 1971 in Oberhoffen sur Moder in Alsace, France. The idea to invent the Cocktailmaster came to M. Basch on the night of November 10th 1988. He was serving during this night when he got a large order of Irish Coffees. The proper way to make this is to heat the whisky with sugar in the glass, to pour espresso coffee very delicately on top of the alcohol with the back of a spoon and finish with fresh whipped cream topping. If you are not careful you can easily get the different ingredients mixed up and miss the presentation.
Being in the restaurant business for that long, Armand knew he had to invent something to become efficient and simplify his work. He started by studying the laws of density between types of liquids, with and without alcohol but ultimately efficiency would come by getting rid of the spoon.
He drew a sketch of was rapidly became a prototype. Like most inventions, the Cocktailmaster went thought some trial and errors and with the right materials he got the final version and patented it.
Today, M. Basch still has fun showing off his knowledge of the liquid densities and surprising his customers with special cocktails.
How the Cocktailmaster Works
Wet the floater with water and then :
1) Start with the heaviest liquid which will always be the sweetest (the liquid with the most sugar content) and pour that into the glass.
Then add the Cocktailmaster to the glass and keep it in the glass until the layers are finished. You pour the layers into The Cocktailmaster and the floater will rise as each layer is added.
2) Add the next layer which must be a liquid that is not as heavy or dense as the first layer.
3) Keep adding liquids making sure each layer is lighter (less dense) than the one beneath it.
Remove the Cocktailmaster and your drink is ready to be served.
Note: You can make any layer heavier or lighter by adding sugar, alcohol or water to it.
Densities Table
The following table has the densities of popular beverages to help you create your own layered cocktail. The table is from Miss-Charming.com.
NAME | COLOR | FLAVOR | WEIGHT |
Cream | White | Milky | very light |
151 Rum | Light Amber | Fire | light |
Maker’s Mark Bourbon | Dark Amber | Bourbon | 0.941 |
Hiram Walker Kirschwasser | Clear | Cherry | 0.941 |
Dekuyper Kirschwasser | Clear | Cherry | 0.941 |
Sauza Silver Tequila | Clear | Tequila | 0.945 |
Jameson’s Irish Whiskey | Amber | Irish Whiskey | 0.948 |
Rain | Clear | Vodka | 0.9498 |
Sauza Gold Tequila | Gold | Tequila | 0.95 |
Skyy Citrus Vodka | Clear | Lemon Vodka | 0.9555 |
Pernod | Clear | Anise/Licorice | 0.985 |
Ouzo | Clear | Anise/Licorice | 0.984 |
Southern Comfort | Dark Amber | Peach Apricot | 0.99337 |
Hiram Walker Ginger Brandy | Light Amber | Ginger Brandy | 0.995 |
Tuaca | Amber | Vanilla Orange Caramel Brandy | 1.0157 |
B&B | Amber | Sweet Herbal Cognac | 1.0245 |
Dekuyper Sloe Gin | Dark Red | Sloe Berries | 1.0261 |
Hiram Walker Peppermint Schnapps | Clear | Peppermint | 1.027 |
Grand Marnier | Amber | Orange Cognac | 1.03 |
Malibu | Clear | Coconut Rum | 1.03 |
Hiram Walker Root Beer Schnapps | Brown | Root Beer | 1.037 |
Cointreau | Clear | Orange | 1.0385 |
Dekuyper Apricot Brandy | Dark Orange | Apricot | 1.0437 |
Dekuyper Triple Sec | Clear | Orange | 1.05 |
Chambord | Maroon | Black Raspberry | 1.05 |
Lady Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur | White | White Chocolate | 1.05 |
Baileys Irish Cream | Tan | Creamy Spiced Irish Whiskey | 1.05 |
Irish Mist | Dark Amber | Honey Herb Whiskey | 1.05 |
Dekuyper Blackberry Brandy | Dark Purple | Blackberry | 1.0552 |
Campari | Red | Bitter | 1.06 |
Benedictine | Light Amber | Herbal | 1.07 |
Dekuyper Blue Curacao | Blue | Orange | 1.0704 |
Dekuyper Root Beer Schnapps | Brown | Root Beer | 1.0705 |
Drambuie | Light Amber | Heather Honey Scotch | 1.08 |
Amaretto Di Saronno | Dark Amber | Almond | 1.08 |
Sambuca | Clear | Anise/Licorice | 1.08 |
Frangelico | Clear | Hazelnut | 1.08 |
Tia Maria | Brown | Coffee | 1.09 |
Dekuyper Anisette | Clear | Anise | 1.0921 |
Dekuyper Melon Liqueur | Bright Green | Honeydew Melon | 1.0924 |
Dekuyper Wildberry Schnapps | Clear | Berry | 1.0894 |
Dekuyper Green Menthe | Dark Green | Mint | 1.0885 |
Dekuyper Bluesberry | Clear | Blueberry | 1.0863 |
Dekuyper Grape Pucker | Purple | Grape | 1.0864 |
Dekuyper Banana | Yellow | Banana | 1.0822 |
Marie Brizard Blue Curacao | Blue | Orange | 1.0999 |
Dekuyper Coffee Liqueur | Brown | Coffee | 1.189 |
Hiram Walker Crème de Noyaux | Red | Almond | 1.148 |
Marie Brizard Coffee Liqueur | Brown | Coffee | 1.142 |
Hiram Walker Crème de Banana | Yellow | Banana | 1.142 |
Midori | Bright Green | Honeydew Melon | 1.15 |
Kahlua | Brown | Coffee | 1.152 |
Marie Brizard White Crème de Cacao | Clear | Chocolate | 1.1602 |
Marie Brizard Dark Crème de Cacao | Brown | Chocolate | 1.1602 |
Hiram Walker Crème de Cassis | Dark Red | Black Currant | 1.179 |
DeKuyper Razzmatazz | Red | Raspberry | 1.139 |
Marie Brizard Anisette | Clear | Anise | 1.1371 |
Hiram Walker Dark Crème de Cacao | Brown | Chocolate | 1.136 |
Dekuyper Buttershots Schnapps | Amber | Butterscotch | 1.1225 |
Dekuyper White Cocoa | Clear | Chocolate | 1.1204 |
Marie Brizard Green Crème de Menthe | Dark Green | Mint | 1.1204 |
Marie Brizard White Crème de Menthe | Clear | Mint | 1.1204 |
Dekuyper Cassis | Dark Red | Black Currant | 1.1211 |
Hiram Walker Butterscotch Schnapps | Amber | Butterscotch | 1.126 |
Galliano | Yellow | Vanilla Licorice | 1.11 |
Dekuyper Thrilla Vanilla | Clear | French Vanilla | 1.1193 |
Dekuyper Hot Damn | Red | Cinnamon | 1.1191 |
Jägermeister | Black/Green | Herbal Bitter | |
Marie Brizard Parfait Amour | Purple | Vanilla Orange Almond | 1.1163 |
Goldschlager | Clear w/ Gold Flakes | Cinnamon | 1.1111 |
Dekuyper Strawberry Liqueur | Red | Strawberry | 1.1005 |
Dekuyper Watermelon Pucker | Red | Watermelon | 1.1051 |
Dekuyper Peachtree | Clear | Peach | 1.1037 |
Dekuyper Mad Melon | Red | Watermelon | 1.0971 |
Dekuyper Island Blue | Light Blue | Fruity | 1.095 |
Dekuyper Apple Pucker | Lime Green | Sour Apple | 1.0944 |
Dekuyper Cheri Beri Pucker | Red | Cherry | 1.0937 |
Dekuyper Coconut Amaretto | Clear | Coconut Almond | 1.0925 |
Grenadine | Red | Cherry/Pomegranate | Heavy |