Ingredients
- .5 Pint(s) Cider Beer
- 1 Dash(s) Blackcurrant Soda
- 1 oz Bourbon Whiskey
- fill with Larger Beer
Instructions
- Fill a pint glass half way with cider. add a dash of blackcurrant cordial. top it up with lager. drink it down a bit (or pour it off) and add a shot of Jack Daniels.
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Snakebite Jack is the British pub Snakebite with an American whiskey turn. The standard Snakebite is half cider and half lager with a dash of blackcurrant cordial; this version drinks the top half down to make room for a shot of Jack Daniels poured in for the second half. The recipe lives in the late-night pub category where the second-act spirit is the point.
It sits in the cider-and-lager family with the Snakebite, the Black Velvet and the Diesel. All four lean on a long beer-or-cider base with a contrasting accent. Snakebite Jack separates itself with the bourbon shot, which transforms the back half of the drink into a warm whiskey pour while the front half drinks as a standard Snakebite.
Best ordered at a British pub late on a Saturday, after the second pint of standard Snakebite has set the pace. The drink is approachable, dry-orchard-then-warming, and works as the transition pour from cider drinking into spirits drinking.
What it tastes like
Dry cider and crisp lager up front, soft blackcurrant through the middle, sharp Jack-burn on the finish once the shot goes in. The first half drinks as a Snakebite; the second half transforms when the bourbon hits the remaining liquid. Reads as two drinks in one glass, with the order built into the technique.
Around 6 percent ABV in the first half and around 8 percent in the second half once the shot is added. Half pint of cider at 5 percent ABV plus lager top at 5 percent ABV plus a one-ounce shot of Jack at 40 percent ABV gives a moderate-strength long pour with a strong second-act finish.
The technique
Fill a pint glass halfway with dry cider. Add a dash of blackcurrant cordial and stir gently. Top with lager to fill. Drink the top third of the glass down. Pour the one-ounce shot of Jack Daniels into the remaining liquid and stir once. Drink the second half in two or three pulls.
The half-and-half base is the technique. Pouring lager first into cider produces excessive foam; cider first, blackcurrant in the middle, lager last gives a clean pour with controlled head. The shot goes in only after the top has been drunk down; pouring it in first dilutes the Snakebite character and wastes the second-act surprise.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The cider
- Use
- Strongbow Original, Magners Original or any dry white cider at 4.5 to 5 percent ABV.
- Skip
- Sweet fruit cider or scrumpy cider. Wrong sweetness, too cloudy.
- Why
- Dry white cider is the lower half of the long pour and the orchard finish. The dry character cuts through the lager and balances the blackcurrant; sweet cider over-sweetens the drink and clashes with the bourbon shot.
The Jack Daniels
- Use
- Jack Daniels Old No. 7 at 40 percent ABV.
- Skip
- Higher-proof Tennessee whiskey. Throws the back-half balance off.
- Why
- Jack Daniels is the second-act spirit and the warming finish. The 40 percent ABV format integrates with the remaining cider-and-lager mix without overpowering it; higher-proof whiskey burns through the cider character and reads as a separate drink.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
The standard build
- Snakebite Jack, classic
- Half pint cider, dash blackcurrant, lager top, drink down a third, add a shot of Jack. Pint glass.
The big build
- Double Snakebite Jack
- Same ratios in a pint and a half glass with a two-ounce shot of Jack. Same flavour profile, longer drink.
The Jim build
- Snakebite Beam
- Substitute Jim Beam for the Jack Daniels. Different American whiskey character, similar second-act warming finish.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Ribena diluted to a syrupy texture. Different brand profile, holds the dark-fruit dash role.
Jim Beam, Wild Turkey or any standard 40 percent ABV bourbon. Different brand character, holds the back-half spirit role.
Pear cider or a dry apple-pear blend. Different fruit angle, holds the dry orchard half.
Pilsner or a light continental beer. Different malt character, holds the crisp upper half.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is a Snakebite Jack?
A British pub Snakebite with a Jack Daniels finisher. Half pint of cider with a dash of blackcurrant, lager top, drink down a third, then add a one-ounce shot of Jack into the remaining liquid.
Why is it called a Snakebite Jack?
The Snakebite name comes from the bite of the cider-and-lager combination, which historically had a reputation for hitting harder than expected. The Jack suffix names the second-act bourbon shot that transforms the back half of the drink.
How strong is a Snakebite Jack?
Around 6 percent ABV in the first half and around 8 percent ABV in the second half once the shot is added. Roughly equal to one and a half standard drinks for the full sixteen-ounce pour.
What does it taste like?
Dry cider and crisp lager up front in the first half, sharp Jack-burn on the finish once the shot goes in for the second half. Two drinks in one glass with the order built into the technique.
Why drink down before adding the shot?
Pouring the shot into a full glass risks overflow and dilutes the Snakebite character of the first half. Drinking down a third makes room for the shot and lets the front half drink cleanly as a standard Snakebite before the bourbon turn.
Can I use a different cider?
Dry pear cider or a dry apple-pear blend work as substitutes. Sweet cider or scrumpy clash with the bourbon shot and over-sweeten the drink.
Is it the same as a Diesel?
No. A Diesel uses cola or sometimes blackcurrant in a cider-and-lager half pint, with no second shot. Snakebite Jack adds the bourbon turn for the back half.
Can I batch a Snakebite Jack?
Not as a punch; the timing of the shot pour is the technique. The base Snakebite portion can be batched in pitchers; pour the bourbon shot per glass at service.
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Such a great recipe, thanks!
So tasty and so easy!
Thanks for the great recipe!
This was a delight to make!
Wow, Snakebite Jack is the perfect combo of sweet and spicy, cheers to that!
I love how Snakebite Jack mixes spicy and sweet – a wild ride for the taste buds!
Wow, Snakebite Jack is a wild mix! Love the unexpected kick and smooth finish. Cheers!
I love the unexpected kick of spice in Snakebite Jack! Perfect for adventurous taste buds.
I love how the Snakebite Jack cocktail combines spicy and sweet flavors seamlessly! Cheers!
Wow, Snakebite Jack is a wild mix! Love the unexpected kick and flavor explosion. Cheers!
Wow, Snakebite Jack is a flavor explosion thats keeping my taste buds guessing! Cheers!
I never knew snakebite could taste so good! Cheers to this wild concoction!
Wow, Snakebite Jack is a wild ride of flavors! Cheers to this creative concoction!
Wow, Snakebite Jack is a wild ride of flavors! Perfect mix for adventurous taste buds.