French Tricolor Pousse-Café
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ oz grenadine
- ¾ oz maraschino liqueur
- ¾ oz crème de violette
INSTRUCTIONS
Pour the first liqueur into a pousse-café glass or sherry glass. Slowly and carefully layer the other ingredients, one on top of the other, in the order given. The ingredients are listed in the order of pouring, from the first in the glass to the last layer.
VIDEO HOW-TO
NOTES
Pousse-Café litterally means "PUSH THE COFFEE," these drinks were invented in France as after-dinner drinks in the early 1800s, and had worked their way to New Orleans by about the 1840s. One of the most labor- intensive, technique-driven drinks, a pousse-café's multiple layers of liqueurs are sometimes more visually pleasing than the end flavor. The point is to be able to enjoy each liqueur separately as you sip through the layers.
The method of layering liqueurs, usually with equal amounts of three to six liqueurs, involves slowly pouring one on top of another, from the heaviest on the bottom to the lightest on top, for visually dramatic strata of colorful liqueurs. After pouring the first (and heaviest) liqueur into a stemmed pousse-café or other straight-sided glass, slowly pour the next layer over the rounded back of a bar spoon, as close to the layer below as possible without the spoon touching the liquid in the glass. Pousse-cafés can be made ahead of time and refrigerated.
A "Pousse-Café glass" refers to a specific type of glassware designed for serving Pousse-Café drinks. It is a tall and narrow glass with a relatively small capacity, typically ranging from 1 to 4 ounces (60 to 120 milliliters). The shape of the glass is important for maintaining the distinct layers of the Pousse-Café drink.
The Pousse-Café glass is characterized by its straight sides and often features a slightly flared rim, allowing for easy pouring and layering of the different liqueurs or spirits. The narrow width of the glass helps to create visually appealing and defined layers when the liquids are poured carefully.
The size of the Pousse-Café glass is relatively small to accommodate the layered drink and encourage sipping rather than large gulps. The smaller size also allows for more control when pouring each layer and maintaining the integrity of the presentation.
While Pousse-Café glasses are commonly used for serving layered drinks, it's worth noting that layered drinks can also be served in other glassware, such as shot glasses or even cocktail glasses, depending on personal preference and the desired effect.
