Ingredients
- 15 ml Sambuca (Romana, Molinari)
- 15 ml Baileys Irish Cream
Instructions
- Pour the sambuca into a 30ml/1oz shot glass.
- Hold a bar spoon (or teaspoon) just above the surface of the sambuca, back of the spoon facing up.
- Slowly pour the Baileys over the spoon so it floats on top of the sambuca.
- Drink in one before the layers blend (about 60-90 seconds).
Notes
Where it came from
The Slippery Nipple traces back to 1980s European clubland, where Baileys had just gone international and sambuca was the bartender’s pour-over-ice classic. Putting the two together was the obvious next step.
It became a fixture on every shooter menu from London to Sydney. The name was the marketing, the layering trick was the showmanship, the cream and anise was the flavour. Three reasons it never left the menu.
It is a buy-the-round drink. Buck’s nights, hens nights, last-call trays. Not a sit-down drink and not a sipping drink.
What it tastes like
Cream and chocolate up front from the Baileys. Liquorice and anise in the middle as the layers meet. A long warming finish from the sambuca’s high ABV.
About 25 percent ABV in the glass. Equal parts sambuca and Baileys, no mixers, straight short pour.
The technique
Pour the sambuca into a 30 ml shot glass first. Float the Baileys slowly over the back of a bar spoon so it lands on top as a clean white layer.
Use cold Baileys from the fridge. Warm Baileys curdles on contact with the alcohol-heavy sambuca and the layer collapses.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The sambuca
- Use
- A clear sambuca like Romana or Molinari.
- Skip
- Black sambuca. The colour fights the layered look.
- Why
- Clear sambuca is the visual base and the anise note. The high ABV makes the layering work.
The Baileys
- Use
- Original Baileys Irish Cream, cold from the fridge.
- Skip
- Cream liqueurs that have been sitting at room temperature.
- Why
- Baileys is the cream layer and the chocolate flavour. Cold cream layers cleanly, warm cream curdles.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
The dressed-up version
- Slippery Cherry
- Add a maraschino cherry on top before serving. Drinks the same, looks more grown-up.
The Aussie version
- Aussie Slippery
- Swap the sambuca for ouzo. Same anise note, drier and more savoury.
The party version
- Slippery Tray
- Pour twelve into a divided shot tray, line them up, fire on a count. Buck’s night staple.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Ouzo or any quality anise liqueur. The flavour shifts a touch but the layering trick still works.
A house-brand Irish cream from the bottle shop. Cheaper, slightly thinner, still floats.
Pour the Baileys slowly over the back of a teaspoon. Same physics, smaller tool.
A 50 ml shot works in a pinch but the ratio reads too creamy. Cut the Baileys to 20 ml if you upsize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Slippery Nipple shot?
Fifteen ml of sambuca on the bottom and fifteen ml of Baileys floated on top, served in a 30 ml shot glass.
How do you make a Slippery Nipple?
Pour the sambuca into a shot glass. Float the cold Baileys slowly over the back of a bar spoon so it forms a layer on top.
What does a Slippery Nipple taste like?
Cream and chocolate up front, anise and liquorice in the middle, a long warming finish from the sambuca.
Is the Slippery Nipple strong?
About 25 percent ABV. Equal parts sambuca and Baileys, no mixers, no juice. Strong for its size.
Where did the Slippery Nipple get its name?
1980s European clubland. Baileys had just gone international, sambuca was already the bar staple, the name made the shot a menu must-have.
Can I make a Slippery Nipple with white sambuca?
Yes. Clear sambuca is the standard. Black sambuca works but the colour clashes with the cream layer.
Why does my Baileys curdle in the shot?
The Baileys was warm or the sambuca was room temperature. Both need to be cold and the Baileys needs to be floated slowly, not poured.
How many calories are in a Slippery Nipple shot?
Around 110 calories per shot. The Baileys carries about 70, the sambuca about 40.
What glass do you serve a Slippery Nipple in?
A 30 ml standard shot glass. The narrower glass keeps the layers visible.
Can I make a Slippery Nipple mocktail?
Yes. Use a non-alcoholic cream liqueur and a teaspoon of anise syrup in cold milk. Layered the same way, no kick.
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