How to Make a Slippery Nipple Cocktail – This classic layered shot recipe features layers of grenadine, Sambuca, and Irish Cream for a slightly fruity, terrifically boozy, and delicious beverage.

close view four shot glasses with slippery nipple cocktail

The Best Slippery Nipple Recipe

If you can’t say slippery nipple without cracking a smile, don’t worry – no judgment here. (Honestly, we cannot say it without a giggle or two!) While it is true the name of this cocktail is a touch risqué, it simply pertains to the look of the beverage with the grenadine (and/or cherry) on the bottom.

Although I’m not a big drinker, and certainly not one to drink shots, I do enjoy a holiday celebration with a shot worth throwing back. And this beverage is about as party-riffic as it gets!

A Slippery Nipple cocktail has three main components layered in just the right way: sweet Grenadine on the bottom, Sambuca (anise-flavored liqueur) in the middle, and Irish cream on top.

The name may make you blush a bit, but together the 3 layers create a fruity, strong, and sweet flavor you’ll love.

slippery nipple cocktails in shot glasses with three layers

Ingredients You Need

  • Sambuca – anise liqueur
  • Irish cream – we prefer Bailey’s Irish cream liqueur, chilled
  • Grenadine – for a perfectly sweet slippery nipple on the bottom of the shot glass
  • Maraschino cherry – with the stem removed (optional)
bottles of ingredients: Bailey's Irish cream, sambuca, and grenadine

How to Make a Slippery Nipple Cocktail

Chill the cocktail ingredients ahead of time. If you can only fit one bottle in the fridge, chill the Irish Cream.

Set out a 2-ounce shot glass, a cocktail jigger, and a cocktail spoon.

Place the cherry in the bottom of the shot glass.

shot glass with maraschino cherry at the bottom

Using a cocktail spoon, slowly pour the grenadine down the handle of the spoon into the bottom without dripping it on the sides of the glass. This method helps to keep the layers perfectly separate, without creating splash marks or murkiness. Some people like to hold the bar spoon upside down and pour down the length of the handle. 

Consider making a “practice shot” to perfect your pouring method.

Next, measure the anise-flavored Sambuca and gently pour the Sambuca into the shot glass down the handle of the spoon.

pouring sambuca into shot glass with cherry and grenadine

Finally, measure and pour the Bailey’s Irish Cream down the length of the spoon into the shot glass.

Repeat as many times as needed.

Get the Complete (Printable) Slippery Nipple Drink Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Slippery Nipple Drink - adding Irish cream to the glass with cherry, grenadine, and sambuca

Bartender Pro Tips

  • It helps to chill the components before making the shots, so they are stable as you layer them.
  • Use the “back of a spoon” pouring method to add the Sambuca and Irish cream. This ensures that the 3 liquids will stay properly layered and pretty, without murky splash marks.
  • Be sure to follow the steps so that you are layering the grenadine, Sambuca, and Irish Cream in the correct order. Otherwise you won’t get those 3 distinct layers.
line of shot glasses with slippery nipples

Recipe Variations

There are many variations of this cocktail, usually still in three layers:

  • If you would like your Slippery Nipple Drinks to be a little less sweet, you can skip the Grenadine, and keep the cherry on the bottom.
  • If you don’t like anise (licorice flavor) you can swap the Sambuca for peppermint schnapps, coffee liqueur, white rum, or vodka.
  • To booze up the shots even more, you can add Sambuca and vodka to the middle layer.
slippery nipple drink on a white background - multiple glasses

Looking for More Delicious Cocktail Recipes? Be Sure to Try:

hand holding two shot glasses with slippery nipple recipe in each
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Slippery Nipple Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
This classic Slippery Nipple cocktail recipe features layers of grenadine, Sambuca, and Irish Cream for a slightly fruity, terrifically boozy and delicious cocktail.
Servings: 1 shot

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric
  • 1 ounce Sambuca anise liqueur
  • ¾ ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream COLD
  • ¼ ounce Grenadine
  • 1 Maraschino cherry stem removed

Instructions

  • Chill the cocktail ingredients ahead of time. If you can only fit one bottle in the fridge, chill the Irish cream.
  • Set out a 2-ounce shot glass, a cocktail jigger, and a cocktail spoon.
  • Place the cherry in the bottom of the shot glass. (optional)
  • Using a cocktail spoon, pour the grenadine down the handle into the bottom without dripping it on the sides of the glass. *This method helps to keep the layers perfectly separate, without creating splash marks or murkiness. Some people like to hold the spoon upside down and pour down the length of the handle.
  • Measure the Sambuca and gently pour the Sambuca into the shot glass down the handle of the spoon.
  • Finally measure and pour the Bailey’s Irish Cream down the length of the spoon into the shot glass.
  • Repeat as many times as needed.

Notes

There are many variations of this cocktail, usually still in three layers:
  • If you would like your slippery nipples to be a little less sweet, you can skip the Grenadine, and keep the cherry on the bottom.
  • If you don’t like anise (licorice flavor) you can swap the Sambuca for peppermint schnapps or vodka.
  • To booze up the shots even more, you can add Sambuca and vodka to the middle layer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1shot, Calories: 205kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 10mg, Potassium: 19mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 315IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Beverage, cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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