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This Bumble Bee Shot is a fun, 3 ingredient layered shot recipe that is great to make for a crowd of people. All you need is Kahlua, Sambuca and Baileys.

For some other layered shot recipes, try this Mudslide Shot, these Chocolate Strawberry Shots or these Rainbow Shots.
If you are looking for more Baileys and Kahlua shot recipes, you’ll like these Baileys Pudding Shots, these Kahlua Pudding Shots, or this Carrot Cake Shot.
And for more recipes with Sambuca, try this Flaming Sambuca Shot.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 3 Ingredients — This is a super simple recipe and all you need is Kahlua, Baileys and Sambuca.
- Layered — Layered shots are always fun to make and they look great when you are serving them to friends.
- Sweet & Strong — Every ingredient in this shot contains alcohol, but the combination of Baileys, Sambuca and Kahlua is just the right balance of flavors.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Kahlua: Kahlua is the most popular type of coffee flavored liqueur, but you can use whatever type of coffee liqueur you like. You can substitute Kahlua for espresso, but you won’t be able to create the same shot layers.
- Baileys: You can use Original Baileys, or use one of their flavored variations, such as Baileys Apple Pie or Baileys Espresso.
- Sambuca: Sambuca is used as the middle, clear shot layer. You can substitute Sambuca with another type of alcohol, such as vodka or rum. However, you will not be able to create the same layered shot effect since the alcohol densities will be different.
How To Make A Bumble Bee Shot
Step 1: Add the Kahlua to the bottom of a shot glass.
Step 2: Pour the Sambuca down the back of a spoon to layer it on top of the Kahlua.
Step 3: Pour the Baileys down the back of a spoon to layer it on top of the Sambuca.
Expert Tips
- Pour the liqueurs down the back of a spoon. If you want to make the clearest layers, pour each liqueur down the back of a spoon. This makes sure the liqueur lands gently on each layer so they remain separate and don’t blend together.
- Prepare them in advance. If you are planning to make this shot for guests, you can make a bunch of bumble bee shots in advance and store them in the fridge until you are ready to serve them.
- Chill your liqueurs. Since this shot is not shaken in a cocktail shaker with ice, chilling all the ingredients in the fridge or freezer before preparing the shot will help it stay extra cold when served.
Recipe FAQs
If your shot did not turn out with layers it could be for a couple reasons. First, it may be that you didn’t pour each ingredient gently enough. Make sure to pour each liqueur down the back of a spoon onto the ingredients below. Secondly, if you made substitutions for any of the ingredients, it may be that the ingredients you substituted for were not the same weight.
You can make this bumble bee shot into a cocktail or a drink by multiplying the ingredients by 2 or 3. However, since every ingredient contains alcohol, it will make a very strong drink. I recommend this recipe as a shot rather than as a cocktail.
📖 Recipe
Bumble Bee Shot
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 shot 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Bumble Bee Shot is a fun, 3 ingredient layered shot recipe that is great to make for a crowd of people. All you need is Kahlua, Sambuca and Baileys.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Kahlua
- 1 oz Sambuca
- 1 oz Baileys Irish Cream
Instructions
- Add the Kahlua to the bottom of a shot glass.
- Pour the Sambuca gently down the back of a spoon, layering it on top of the Kahlua.
- Finally, pour the Baileys gently down the back of a spoon, layering it on top of the Sambuca.
Notes
- Substitutions: If you make substitutions for ingredients in this recipe, they may not create the same layers as shown in the photographs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Shot Recipes
- Method: Layered
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 shot
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14.5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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