I was on our annual family vacation to Puerto Rico visiting
my Mom’s family for the holidays. As we
sat in a Mexican restaurant, I sipped on my margarita when I heard a sudden
bang and a crowd of people yell some gibberish.
I turned to see a group of people downing a shot, and suddenly my
margarita seemed a little boring.
My mom and grandpa cheered them on. Obviously confused never having seen a shot
taken in such a strange manner, I asked my mom what they were doing. My mom and grandpa explained that it was a “Cucaracha
Shot”, which is a traditional Mexican drink.
Instead of mixing it in a usual shaker, the bartender or waiter pours
the ingredients into a small shot glass, takes their hand over the top with a
towel or small lid, and slams it against a wooden board.
The popularity of this shot has transcended country borders
beyond Mexico. So, in Puerto Rico, the slamming of the shot against a slab of wood
to mix its ingredients and a shout of “cucaracha!” is just one rendition. Another traditional rendition is to pour in
the ingredients, mix it, and set it on fire.
Once aflame, you put in a straw and try and drink the shot before the
flame burns the alcohol.
There are a few variations of the drink, but the most traditional calls for the following ingredients:
· 1/3 of tequila
· 1/3 of Coca-Cola
· 1/3 of your favorite coffee liqueur
For the Cucaracha shot on fire, your best bet is to include the following:
· 1/3 tequila
· 1/3 of Bacardi 151
· 1/3 of Coca-Cola
