Zombie Brain Shot

What’s in this brain hemorrhage shot?

• Peach schnapps – Acts as the primary base of the shot, giving it a fruity foundation. Its clarity makes it ideal for showcasing the other layered ingredients. I like to think of it as the “embalming fluid.”
• Creme de Menthe – Adds a refreshing minty twist to the drink. The green hue provides a slightly eerie color to the shot, playing up the “zombie” theme.
• Baileys Irish Cream – When poured over a spoon into the schnapps, it creates a curdled, clumpy appearance resembling brains. This effect, combined with its rich and creamy taste, is essential for the “zombie brain” aesthetic and flavor profile of the shot.
• Grenadine – The red hue of grenadine mimics the look of blood, adding to the macabre “zombie” vibe of the shot. It also imparts a touch of fruity sweetness, which complements the peach schnapps.

Why does this shot look like brains?!

The “magic” behind this shot lies in the reaction between the creamy Baileys and the peach schnapps. If you’ve ever seen a drink where Baileys curdles when mixed with something acidic (like certain beers), it’s a similar effect here with the schnapps. The addition of grenadine, a dense syrup, intensifies this effect. Poured last, the grenadine drags the Baileys down, causing more curdling and creating that distinctive “brain” appearance.

It’s all really interesting to watch!

Can you make a bigger batch?

If you’re feeling fearless, then yes, you can make a bigger batch of this shot, even if that means simply serving it in a red solo cup. This drink has no special “effects” (such as layering, gradients, etc.), so it’s perfectly safe to mix this drink and serve it in a big batch.

And in order to make a big batch, all you need to do is measure this drink in parts.

Recipes measured in parts allow for adjustable drink sizes. The measurements they give you (1 part, 1/2 part, etc.) are so you can keep the ratio of the ingredients correct.

For example, let’s say you wanted to make one drink – this typically means you’re using 1 standard shot glass for measuring. So then, when the recipe says “1 part”, you would interpret that amount as “1 standard shot glass” full. If the recipe says “1/2 part”, you’d fill the shot glass halfway so that it’s “1/2 standard shot glass.” OR, let’s say you wanted to make enough drinks for a few friends. When making the drink, you could interpret “1 part” as “1 cup” (or “1/2 part” to “1/2 cup.”)

Given the above, to measure this shot in parts, you would need:

• 4 parts peach schnapps
• 1 part Creme de Menthe
• 2 parts Baileys Irish Cream
• 1 part grenadine

Notes & Tips for This Zombie Brain Hemorrhage

• This drink works best when served in a double-shot glass (2 ounces). If you don’t already have a set, you can get one like what’s pictured above here: 4 piece tall shot glass set.
• When serving this shot (and especially if you plan on making a bunch of these drinks) I highly recommend putting the alcohol ingredients into squeeze bottles. This will help give you more accuracy for creating extra creepy brains!
• The Creme de Menthe in this recipe is only added for a festive color, so you could skip it or use a different color or flavor of alcohol if you wanted.

Step 1 – Start off by adding some peach schnapps to a tall shot glass.

Step 2 – Next, add some Creme de Menthe for a bit of color.

Step 3 – Hold a small spoon over the top of the shot glass and gently pour the Baileys Irish cream over the back, allowing the liquid to fan out and spill into the shot glass. Doing this helps give this shot a lot of nice texture as the cream hits the alcohol.

Step 4 – Add a dash of grenadine for more color and to help pull the Irish cream down.