The Cement Mixer Shot

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/22/21
Cement mixer shot

The Spruce
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 shot
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
164 Calories
0g Fat
18g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 164
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 5mg 23%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 34mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The cement mixer shot is both one of the most popular shot drinks and, in some opinions, one of the most disgusting. Why it has endured is a great mystery in the bar world. The reason may have a lot to do with the reaction of those who drink it and the laugh their friends get out of watching it go down.

The drink itself does not taste bad—citrus and cream are not a poor combination. The real problem is the texture; it is named the cement mixer because it's imagined to be a lot like drinking concrete. If you have a tendency to gag on certain food textures, this shot is probably not for you. It can be a hard drink to get down and there are plenty of tastier shooters to enjoy instead.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces Irish cream liqueur

  • 1/2 ounce lime juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pour the Irish cream into a large shot glass.

  3. Slowly float the lime juice on top, or just pour it on.

  4. When you're ready to drink, take the shot and hold it in your mouth. Shake your head very fast, then swallow. You just turned your mouth into a cement mixer!

What's Makes the Cement Mixer So Thick?

An interesting chemical reaction takes place when you make the cement mixer. As the shot sits, the fat of the Irish cream and the acid of the lime juice slowly combine. Within seconds, a thick, lumpy slurry is created that will get thicker over time, especially when it's agitated. If you need a visual, go ahead and stir it with a straw and watch the "magic" happen. The texture is best compared to cottage cheese or (more appropriately) uncured cement. Timing is important when drinking a cement mixer; you don't want to wait too long or the mix will become too thick. Also, the more lime juice you use, the chunkier it will become.

Tips

  • If you have a weak stomach or have had too much to drink already, this may not be the best time to drink a cement mixer.
  • You might want to have a glass of water available just in case you wait a little too long and the mix becomes too cement-like. A good rinse should help you recover.
  • If you have a fresh lime around, simply squeeze the juice from half the fruit into the shot glass. If you have bottled lime juice or Rose's Lime Cordial in the refrigerator, this is the perfect drink to use it in.

How Strong Is a Cement Mixer?

The cement mixer is not a strong shot. Essentially, you're just diluting Irish cream with lime juice, so pouring a 40-proof liqueur will result in a 30-proof (15 percent ABV) shot.

Recipe Variation

Rather than mixing the two ingredients in a shot glass, some drinkers prefer to mix everything up in their mouths. Pour the Irish cream and lime juice into separate shot glasses. Begin with the Irish cream and pour both shots into your mouth (don't swallow yet). Shake your head really fast to mix everything up, then swallow.

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