Equipment
- Basic Bar Tools
Ingredients
- .75 oz Peach Schnapps
- .25 oz Irish Cream
- 5-7 Drops Grenadine Syrup
- 1 Dash Blue Curacao Liqueur
- 1 dash 151 Rum
Instructions
Pour the Base:
- Pour 0.75 oz of peach schnapps into a shot glass.
Add the Cream:
- Splash 0.25 oz of Irish cream on top of the peach schnapps.
- Create the "Brain" Effect:
- Add a dash of blue curaçao liqueur.
- Carefully drop 5-7 drops of grenadine syrup into the glass. The grenadine will sink and create a "brain" effect.
Top with 151 Rum:
- Carefully layer a dash of 151 rum on top.
Ignite:
- Carefully set the 151 rum on fire using a lighter or a match. Ensure all safety precautions are in place.
Serve:
- Serve immediately while the flame is still burning. Blow out the flame before drinking.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
This shot is a modern creation, likely emerging from the lively bar scene of the late 20th or early 21st century. It’s a playful spin on the simpler ‘Brain Hemorrhage’ shot, adding more color and the dramatic element of fire. Its exact origin is unknown, but it fits the trend of visually striking, sweet shots popular in college towns and high-volume bars.
The Flaming Alien Brain Hemorrhage Shot belongs to a family of ‘brain’ shots, all designed to mimic a cerebral hemorrhage through layering. Its closest relatives are the basic Brain Hemorrhage (peach schnapps, Irish cream, grenadine) and the Alien Brain Hemorrhage (which adds blue curaçao but no flame). This version stands out by incorporating the flaming 151 rum, making it the most dramatic of the bunch.
You’d typically find or serve this shot in places where fun and spectacle are priorities: a bustling dive bar, a college-town pub, or at a house party. It’s a celebratory drink for a crowd, not something you’d see on the menu at a quiet cocktail lounge or a high-end restaurant.
What it tastes like
This shot offers a distinctly sweet and creamy profile. The initial taste is dominated by bright, syrupy peach from the schnapps, quickly followed by the rich, smooth notes of Irish cream. A touch of berry from the grenadine provides a slightly tart counterpoint, while the blue curaçao adds a faint citrus zest. The flaming 151 rum, if extinguished quickly, can impart a fleeting caramelized warmth and a strong alcohol presence.
With approximately 0.22 oz of pure alcohol in about 1 oz of liquid before the flame, this shot clocks in around 21-22% ABV. The 151 rum contributes significantly to the initial alcohol content, though much of it burns off during ignition. It’s a potent shot by volume, roughly equivalent to a small, strong cocktail, and considerably higher in alcohol by volume than a standard beer.
The technique
Building this shot requires careful layering to achieve the desired visual effect. Start by pouring the peach schnapps into a shot glass. Next, gently float the Irish cream on top, using the back of a bar spoon to create a distinct layer. Add a dash of blue curaçao, then carefully drop the grenadine syrup from a slight height; this allows the grenadine to sink through the cream and create the ‘brain’ effect. Finish by carefully layering the 151 rum on the very top for ignition. Always exercise extreme caution when lighting the rum.
The key technique here is controlled layering, especially for the Irish cream and the 151 rum. The different densities of the liqueurs mean a gentle pour over the back of a spoon is essential. If you just dump them in, the layers will mix, and you’ll end up with a murky, unappealing shot instead of the distinct ‘brain’ structure and clear flame layer.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Peach Schnapps
- Use
- Brands like DeKuyper, Bols, or Hiram Walker are standard. They typically sit around 23% ABV, offering a sweet, ripe peach flavor and a syrupy consistency.
- Skip
- Peach liqueur, which is often drier and higher in ABV, won’t provide the same sweet base or density for layering. Peach syrup lacks alcohol entirely and will throw off the drink’s balance.
- Why
- This forms the sweet, fruity foundation of the shot and provides a crucial lower layer for the ‘brain’ effect to develop upon.
Irish Cream
- Use
- Baileys is the go-to, but Carolans or St. Brendan’s work just as well. Look for a creamy, sweet liqueur around 17% ABV.
- Skip
- Coffee liqueur will change the flavor profile entirely. Heavy cream, while providing the texture, lacks the alcohol and distinctive flavor that makes this shot work.
- Why
- Irish cream is essential for creating the ‘brain’ effect. Its density and color allow the grenadine to clot and bleed through, giving the shot its signature look and creamy texture.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Brain Hemorrhage
- The original, simpler version.
- This variation omits the blue curaçao and the flaming 151 rum, focusing solely on the peach schnapps, Irish cream, and grenadine for the visual effect.
Alien Brain Hemorrhage
- The non-flaming, colorful variant.
- This version includes the blue curaçao for the ‘alien’ color but skips the 151 rum and the ignition, making it a safer, non-flaming option.
Monkey Brain Shot
- A different ‘brain’ with a distinct flavor.
- While similar in concept, this shot typically uses Kahlua, lime juice, and grenadine, creating a different flavor profile but still aiming for a ‘brain’ like visual.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
A sweet raspberry or melon schnapps could work for the sweetness and layering, but the signature peach flavor will be absent.
Any cream liqueur, like a coffee cream liqueur (e.g., Kahlua with a splash of cream), can provide the texture, but the flavor will shift significantly.
You can omit it for a standard Flaming Brain Hemorrhage, or use a dash of another colored liqueur like Midori for a different alien hue.
A high-proof neutral spirit like Everclear, or another overproof rum (e.g., Wray & Nephew White Overproof) can be used for flaming, but be aware of different burn characteristics and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Flaming Alien Brain Hemorrhage Shot?
A Flaming Alien Brain Hemorrhage Shot contains peach schnapps, Irish cream, grenadine syrup, blue curaçao liqueur, and 151 rum.
How do you make a Flaming Alien Brain Hemorrhage Shot?
You layer peach schnapps, Irish cream, blue curaçao, and grenadine in a shot glass, then carefully float 151 rum on top and ignite it.
Is the Flaming Alien Brain Hemorrhage Shot dangerous?
Any drink involving fire and alcohol requires extreme caution. Always blow out the flame completely before drinking, and handle flammable spirits responsibly.
What does a Flaming Alien Brain Hemorrhage Shot taste like?
It tastes sweet and creamy, with prominent peach and a hint of berry, followed by a strong alcohol presence, especially if the flame is quickly extinguished.
Why is it called a ‘Brain Hemorrhage’ shot?
The grenadine sinks through the Irish cream, creating a visual effect that resembles a brain or a blood clot, giving the shot its distinctive name.
Can I make it without the flame?
Yes, you can omit the 151 rum and the ignition step. It then becomes an Alien Brain Hemorrhage Shot, still visually striking but without the fire.
What’s the best way to get the brain effect?
Carefully drop the grenadine from a small height directly into the Irish cream layer. This allows it to sink and ‘clot’ effectively, forming the brain-like tendrils.
What kind of glass should I use?
A standard shot glass is the appropriate and safest choice for serving the Flaming Alien Brain Hemorrhage Shot.
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