Cocktail Recipe: Cold War Shots, the perfect balance of vodka & sambuca

Man, it’s a good thing that I am my own boss. I have this uncanny knack of going out on on a “school night” and staying out far later than I should. Far far too late, with far far too much alcohol.

Last night was no exception.

Jeremy Wright, the head honcho for b5media (aka Capt. Fancy Pants) was in town. Tris came over from Victoria, and we met Jeremy and started drinking at about 3 pm. Give or take. Everything was fine until we moved bars.

I knew I was in trouble when I opened my big mouth and said, like the cocky woman I am, “Is that a challenge?” to Jeremy when he mentioned I was behind.

Two shots of Patron later, I was “caught up”. And then, out came the “b5 shots”. They’re technically called Cold War shots in North America, but they’ve been re-christened as the Official b5 Shot. Why? Because Jeremy said so, that’s why.

I knew we were in trouble when he ordered the table 12 shots complete with Corona chasers.

To enjoy your very own b5media shots, take 2/3 of an ounce of Stoli Vodka, (and yes, it has to be Stoli. If you don’t use Stoli, it won’t work properly. No idea why, that that’s the case) and 1/3 an ounce white sambuca. Pour them into a shot glass and serve. Don’t do anything fancy, don’t chill the vodka, don’t shake them, stir them or anything. The instant you start mucking around with them alcohol, the shot goes cloudy and then you’ve ruined it (and then it tastes disgusting, or so I’ve been told).

The shot is surprisingly smooth, and the vodka and sambuca cancel each other out and neither of them has that sharpness that marks each of the spirits on their own.

Just be forewarned, especially if you’re drinking with anyone from b5, we’re hardcore, and we take our alcohol very very seriously.

(photo credit: Tris Hussey)