Ingredients
- .5 oz Orange Liqueur
- .5 oz Tequila
- .5 oz Raspberry Cordial
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: Stir all ingredients in an old-fashioned glass or a double shot glass.
- Serve: Place your hand over the glass, poke a straw through your fingers, and suck it all up in one go.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The exact origin of the Coat Hanger is hazy, likely emerging from the wilder side of late 20th-century bar culture. This isn't a drink found in dusty old cocktail books, but rather one born out of experimentation in a busy bar, probably late at night, aiming for maximum impact in minimal time.
This drink falls squarely into the 'party shot' category. It's a distant cousin to other sweet, quick hits like the Kamikaze or the Lemon Drop, but with a unique blend of agave and bright raspberry. It's designed for speed and flavor, not contemplation.
You'd order this one at a lively bar where the music's loud and the mood is loose. It's not a pre-dinner aperitif or a quiet nightcap. Serve it when you want to kick things up a notch or send guests off with a memorable, potent farewell.
The name's a bit of a mystery, but maybe it's because it hooks you in for a quick, sweet ride, or perhaps it's just a memorable tag for a potent hit. Either way, it gets the job done.
What it tastes like
Expect a big, sweet punch upfront, dominated by bright raspberry and zesty orange. The tequila provides a subtle earthy backbone, but it's mostly about the fruit and the sugar. It's smooth, syrupy, and goes down easy, almost too easy.
At 1.5 oz total volume, with 0.5 oz of 40% ABV tequila and 0.5 oz of a 30% ABV orange liqueur, this shot clocks in around 23% ABV. That makes it roughly four or five times stronger than your average beer by volume, so treat it like the small but mighty shot it is.
The technique
Building a Coat Hanger is as simple as it gets. Combine all your ingredients in an old-fashioned glass or a double shot glass. Give it a quick stir to marry the flavors. There's no shaking, no straining, just a direct pour and a swift mix.
The most important technique for this drink happens after it's in the glass. Don't sip it. This one's meant to disappear in one swift motion. Place your hand over the glass, poke a straw through your fingers, and suck it all up in one go. Commitment is key here.
Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Tequila
- Use
- A clean, unaged Blanco tequila. Something like Espolon Blanco or El Jimador Blanco works well.
- Skip
- Añejo or Reposado tequilas. Their oaky notes will clash with the bright fruit.
- Why
- You need a spirit that provides a kick without overshadowing the fruit. Blanco tequila offers a clear, agave-forward base that lets the raspberry and orange shine.
Orange Liqueur
- Use
- Triple Sec or Cointreau. Both offer bright, sweet orange notes.
- Skip
- Dark, aged orange liqueurs or ones with heavy spice notes. You want pure, straightforward orange.
- Why
- This adds a layer of citrus sweetness and a bit more boozy depth, balancing the raspberry cordial without making the drink too complex.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink.
Berry Hanger
- Swap the fruit for a different vibe.
- Substitute the raspberry cordial with a strawberry or blackberry cordial for a similar sweet, fruity profile with a different berry twist.
Vodka Hanger
- A spirit swap for a neutral base.
- Replace the tequila with an equal measure of good quality vodka for a cleaner, less agave-forward version that lets the fruit truly dominate.
Tall Hanger
- Make it a longer, more sippable drink.
- Pour the prepared Coat Hanger into a highball glass filled with ice, then top with soda water or lemon-lime soda for a refreshing, lower-impact version.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use 0.25 oz fresh orange juice with 0.25 oz simple syrup and a dash of vodka if you need to maintain the alcohol content.
Vodka or a light, unaged rum can step in, though the agave character will be missed.
Grenadine or another berry-flavored syrup will provide the necessary sweetness and color, though the specific fruit flavor will change.
Any small glass will do, even a standard shot glass if you're truly in a pinch. Just make sure it holds 1.5 oz comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Coat Hanger?
A Coat Hanger contains 0.5 oz orange liqueur, 0.5 oz tequila, and 0.5 oz raspberry cordial.
Is the Coat Hanger a shot?
Yes, it's typically served and consumed as a shot, meant to be drunk in one go.
What does a Coat Hanger taste like?
It tastes sweet and fruity, with prominent raspberry and orange flavors, backed by the subtle earthiness of tequila.
Why is it called Coat Hanger?
The exact reason behind the name is lost to the mists of bar lore. Maybe it's because it hooks you in for a quick, sweet ride, or perhaps it's just a memorable tag for a potent hit.
Can I make a Coat Hanger less sweet?
You can slightly reduce the amount of raspberry cordial, or use a less sweet orange liqueur like Cointreau instead of a very sugary Triple Sec.
What kind of tequila should I use for a Coat Hanger?
A Blanco (unaged) tequila is best. It's clean and won't overpower the fruit flavors.
Is raspberry cordial alcoholic?
Typically, raspberry cordial is a non-alcoholic syrup. If you use a raspberry liqueur, the drink's alcohol content will be higher.
Can I serve a Coat Hanger over ice?
While it's usually a straight shot, you could serve it over a single large ice cube to chill it and dilute it slightly as it melts, making it a bit more sippable.
More Like This
More drinks in the same family.
