The Mind Eraser is a fun, layered shot that's been a bar favorite since the 1990s. Made with coffee liqueur, vodka, and soda water, it's simple to prepare at home and always a crowd-pleaser at parties.

A glass of layered coffee liqueur cocktail sits on a counter with coffee beans, another glass, and a bottle of Kahlúa in the background.

I've always loved how simple it is to make a Mind Eraser Shot. It uses just three ingredients - coffee liqueur, vodka, and soda water - layered together to create a bold, slightly fizzy shot with a smooth coffee flavor. The combination is strong but surprisingly easy to drink.

The key to achieving the classic layered look is pouring the vodka and soda slowly over the back of a spoon so they sit on top of the coffee liqueur rather than mixing. When served this way, you get distinct layers in the glass, and the drink stays nice and smooth.

The Mind Eraser Shot became popular in the 1990s and is sometimes described as a fizzy twist on a Black Russian. If you enjoy the flavors here, you might also like a Mind Eraser Cocktail, which turns this classic shot into a full-sized drink.

Mind Eraser Shot

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The Mind Eraser is a classic layered shot made with coffee liqueur, vodka, and soda water. It's bold, slightly fizzy, and easy to make with just three ingredients.

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Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings: 1 shot

Course: Cocktail

Ingredients

½ ounce coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa
½ ounce vodka
½ ounce soda water

Method

Pour the coffee liqueur into a shot glass.
½ ounce coffee liqueur
Next, slowly pour the vodka into the glass over the back of a spoon. Using a spoon helps to keep the layers from mixing.
½ ounce vodka, ½ ounce soda water
Very slowly pour in the soda water, again using the back of a spoon. Serve right away.

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