Dirty South Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Dirty South is a sweet, after-dinner style shot that leans into dessert liqueurs and bold anise notes rather than classic sour-and-spirit structure. It feels like a modern party-shot creation: built for quick impact, big aroma, and a playful contrast between candy-like sweetness and darker, herbal edges. With three liqueurs doing all the work, you get something indulgent, punchy, and unapologetically rich in a small pour.
You’ll taste the butterscotch schnapps first, bringing a buttery caramel sweetness that sets a confectionery baseline. Black sambuca cuts through with its distinctive anise/licorice intensity, adding a dark, aromatic snap that keeps the sweetness from feeling flat. Bailey’s rounds everything out with creamy, milky richness, smoothing the sharper sambuca notes and turning the finish into a velvety, dessert-like linger.
Serve it in a shot glass when you want a quick, sweet hit—ideal as a nightcap, a birthday round, or a “something different” pick for liqueur lovers. It suits drinkers who enjoy creamy drinks and bold licorice flavours, and it works especially well when you’re after a small, warming treat rather than a long sip.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
.svg){kind=icon}
Cocktail Colin says:
Butterscotch schnapps leads with buttery caramel sweetness, Bailey’s adds creamy cocoa-vanilla richness, and black sambuca brings a dark anise punch that lingers through the finish. It works because the sambuca’s herbal bite keeps the dessert liqueurs from turning cloying, making it ideal for after-dinner shot fans and anyone who likes licorice with their sweets.
Method
How to make a Dirty South
- Butterscotch schnapps 15ml, Sambuca (black) 15ml, Bailey's 15ml
-
- Add the black sambuca to a shooter glass, then slowly pour the Bailey’s on top so it layers
-
- Pour the butterscotch schnapps on top to form a final layer, and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Dirty South with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Learn more about some of the mixology terms used in this cocktail
· Layer ·Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
Can I substitute one of the ingredients in a Dirty South cocktail if I don't have it on hand?
Yes, you can substitute ingredients based on what you have available. For example, if you don't have Butterscotch schnapps, consider using a caramel liqueur for a similar flavor profile. However, keep in mind that substitutions will alter the original taste of the Dirty South.
What is the best way to serve a Dirty South cocktail?
A Dirty South cocktail is best served cold in a shot glass. To enhance its flavors, make sure all ingredients are well-chilled before mixing. Serving it as a chilled shot can intensify the experience and highlight its unique taste.
How does the alcohol content of a Dirty South compare to other popular cocktails?
The Dirty South has an alcohol content of 23.33%, which places it on the higher end of the spectrum compared to many classic cocktails. For comparison, a standard Margarita typically has around 12-15% alcohol by volume, making the Dirty South a stronger choice.
Is the Dirty South cocktail suited for any particular type of occasion?
Given its strong flavor and high alcohol content, the Dirty South is well-suited for lively occasions or as a bold starter at parties. It's perfect for nights when you're looking for something distinctive and potent to kick off the festivities.
What kind of food pairs well with a Dirty South cocktail?
The rich and sweet notes of the Dirty South blend well with savory appetizers or salty snacks. Consider pairing it with mini sliders, salted nuts, or cheese platters to balance its sweetness and provide a satisfying contrast.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments