Equipment
- Basic Bar Tools
- Shot Glass
Ingredients
- 1 oz Raspberry Vodka
- 1 oz Honey Whiskey
- 2 oz Lemonade
- 1 oz Orange Vodka
- 1 oz Blueberry Schnapps
- 1 oz Sugar Syrup
Instructions
To Make:
Prepare the Shots:
- Fill a shot glass with 1 oz of raspberry vodka.
- Fill another shot glass with 1 oz of honey whiskey.
Prepare the Jug Mix:
- In a jug, pour champagne and lemonade with a splash of simple syrup. The amount of champagne depends on the size of your jug.
- Prepare Additional Glasses:
- In another glass, pour 2 oz of lemonade.
- In a separate glass, mix 1 oz of orange vodka and 1 oz of blueberry schnapps.
Assemble the Inception Layers:
- Place the glass with lemonade and the glass with the orange vodka and blueberry schnapps mix inside the jug so they balance on top.
- Balance the shot glasses of honey whiskey and raspberry vodka inside the glass with lemonade.
To Drink:
First Layer:
- Drink the raspberry vodka shot first, allowing the honey whiskey shot to fall into the lemonade glass.
Second Layer:
- Drink the lemonade and honey whiskey mix, causing the glass with orange vodka and blueberry schnapps to fall into the jug of champagne, lemonade, and sugar syrup.
Final Layer:
- Enjoy the remaining mix of champagne, lemonade, and fruit-flavored vodkas and schnapps from the jug.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Bomb shots aren’t about ancient history, they’re about modern party dynamics. The Double Inception Bomb Shot, with its elaborate cascade of drops, is a clear evolution of the high-energy bar scene, likely born from a bartender’s challenge or a particularly ambitious home party host. It’s a contemporary creation designed for visual flair and an immediate buzz, rather than a slow sipper with a storied past.
This drink sits squarely in the ‘bomb shot’ family, alongside its rowdier cousins like the Jager Bomb or the Vegas Bomb. What sets the Double Inception apart is its commitment to multiple, sequential drops. While most bomb shots are a single plunge, this one strings together a series of events, turning a simple shot into a mini-performance.
You’d typically find something this involved at a high-volume party bar, a bustling club, or as a showstopper at a house party. It’s designed to be a conversation starter and a group experience, not a quiet drink to ponder alone at a dimly lit cocktail lounge.
What it tastes like
The Double Inception Bomb Shot hits with a flurry of sweet, fruit-forward flavors. The initial raspberry vodka offers a bright, tangy kick, quickly followed by the rich, warm notes of honey whiskey. As these merge into the lemonade, a sweet and tart base forms, which then gets further layered with the vibrant orange vodka and syrupy blueberry schnapps. The final jug becomes a sparkling, fruit-heavy punch, a medley of sweet berries and citrus with a champagne fizz.
This drink starts with a concentrated hit. The initial 1 oz shots of vodka and whiskey are potent, delivering a quick alcoholic rush comparable to a standard shot of neat spirit. Once everything combines in the jug, assuming a generous pour of champagne and lemonade, the overall ABV dilutes to something closer to a strong wine or a relatively light mixed cocktail, around 10-15% depending on the final volume. It’s less about a sustained buzz and more about the initial impact.
The technique
Building a Double Inception Bomb Shot is more about careful placement than fancy shaking. You’ll need a jug, a couple of standard glasses, and two shot glasses. The trick is to create a stable, nested structure where the smaller vessels balance precariously inside the larger ones. Start by placing the lemonade glass and the orange vodka/blueberry schnapps glass into the jug. Then, carefully balance the honey whiskey and raspberry vodka shot glasses inside the lemonade glass. The goal is a delicate tower, ready to be collapsed with purpose.
The single most important technique here is the art of the controlled drop. Each layer needs to be consumed or initiated with just enough precision to cause the next vessel to fall without spilling or shattering. Practice a gentle tilt or a steady hand to avoid a messy explosion. A clean drop ensures the flavors mix correctly and you don’t end up with a sticky bar or floor. It’s about kinetic energy, not brute force.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Raspberry Vodka
- Use
- Any quality raspberry flavored vodka, around 35-40% ABV. Smirnoff Raspberry, Absolut Raspberri, or Svedka Raspberry are solid choices. The key is a clean, authentic berry flavor.
- Skip
- Raspberry schnapps or liqueur. These are typically lower in ABV and much sweeter, which would throw off the balance of the initial shot and the subsequent mixes.
- Why
- This ingredient provides the initial burst of bright fruit flavor and the first alcoholic kick, setting the stage for the cascading experience. It’s the clean, spirited base for the first drop.
Honey Whiskey
- Use
- A proper honey-flavored whiskey like Jim Beam Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, or Wild Turkey American Honey. These integrate the honey sweetness directly into the whiskey base.
- Skip
- Plain whiskey with a separate honey syrup. The flavor profile won’t be as smooth or integrated, and the texture might feel off in the mix.
- Why
- Honey whiskey adds a distinct layer of warmth, sweetness, and a subtle oak character that contrasts with the fruit vodkas. It’s crucial for the unique taste of the second drop and the overall complexity.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Tropical Inception
- A sunnier, fruit-forward cascade
- Swap raspberry vodka for pineapple vodka, and blueberry schnapps for a peach or coconut liqueur. Use tropical juice instead of lemonade for the base.
Citrus Bomb
- Bright, zesty, and refreshing
- Focus on citrus by using lemon vodka, triple sec, and a splash of lime juice instead of blueberry schnapps. Keep the lemonade and champagne as the base.
Berry Bomb
- An explosion of mixed berry flavors
- Maximize the berry notes by using strawberry vodka and blackberry schnapps. You could also add a splash of cranberry juice to the jug mix for extra tartness.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use plain vodka with a small splash of raspberry liqueur or grenadine, though the ABV will be slightly different.
A good bourbon or rye whiskey with a dash of honey syrup can work, but the integrated honey flavor will be less pronounced.
Plain vodka with a splash of orange liqueur like Cointreau or Triple Sec, or even a small amount of fresh orange juice.
Any other berry-flavored schnapps or liqueur, such as peach, apple, or even a deeper berry like blackberry, will change the flavor but keep the sweetness.
Prosecco or Cava are excellent sparkling wine alternatives. For a non-alcoholic fizz, sparkling cider or even club soda can be used, but the drink’s character will change significantly.
Small cordial glasses or even carefully measured espresso cups can serve as temporary vessels for the drops, just ensure they are stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Double Inception Bomb Shot?
A Double Inception Bomb Shot contains raspberry vodka, honey whiskey, lemonade, orange vodka, blueberry schnapps, sugar syrup, and champagne.
How do you drink a Double Inception Bomb Shot?
You drink it in layers. First, drink the raspberry vodka shot, letting the honey whiskey fall into the lemonade. Then, drink that mix, allowing the orange vodka and blueberry schnapps glass to fall into the champagne jug. Finally, enjoy the mixed contents of the jug.
Is the Double Inception Bomb Shot strong?
The initial shots are potent, delivering a quick hit. However, once all ingredients combine in the jug with champagne and lemonade, the overall drink becomes diluted to a more moderate strength, similar to a strong wine or a light cocktail.
What kind of vodka should I use?
For the best flavor, use good quality flavored vodkas specific to the recipe: raspberry and orange. Avoid plain vodka unless you plan to add corresponding liqueurs or fruit juices.
Can I make this with different flavors?
Absolutely. The concept lends itself well to flavor experimentation. Just ensure your chosen spirits and liqueurs complement each other and the lemonade/champagne base.
Is it hard to make?
The primary challenge is the careful balancing of the glasses and shot glasses to create the ‘inception’ effect. It requires a steady hand and some precision to avoid spills.
What’s a bomb shot?
A bomb shot is typically a shot glass containing a spirit or liqueur dropped into a larger glass of mixer, often an energy drink or beer, and consumed quickly.
Why is it called ‘Double Inception’?
The ‘Double Inception’ refers to the two distinct stages of dropping. One shot drops into a glass, and then that glass, with its contents, drops into an even larger vessel, creating a layered, cascading effect.
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