Monkey shot
The Brabant shot that brings banana and licorice together. Everything about the alcohol percentage, sizes, how to serve it ice-cold, and the glass that goes with it.
Banana and licorice in one glass
Apenshot is a Dutch shot from ABND Drinks Company in Breda. The combination is unusual: banana and licorice, two flavours you wouldn't normally expect to find together in one bottle. In practice, the soft, creamy banana complements the salty edge of the licorice, making the whole thing sweet without becoming syrupy.
At 14%, Apenshot is low for a shot: Dropshot is 20%, Kleiner Feigling is 20%, and Jägermeister is even 35%. That low percentage is intentional, because the bottle is meant to be passed around. It also affects the flavour: the lower the percentage, the more the banana and licorice come through instead of the alcohol.
In brief
Apenshot and similar shots
Apenshot comes in one flavour and three sizes. These other Dutch shots are the closest in style.
Monkey shot
The standard bottle: banana and licorice, smooth and sweet. Put it in the freezer for a few hours and it will become syrupy and considerably less sweet.
Apenshot 3 litres
The three-liter party bottle. Good for more than a hundred shots; just make sure to chill it, because it won't fit in most people's freezers.
Apenshot minis
Eight individual 2 cl bottles. Handy for sharing, taking with you, or putting in a gift set.
Dropshot
The best-known Dutch licorice shot, without banana and with 20% more strength. This one should also be served ice-cold from the freezer.
Flügel
Vodka with energy drink in 2 cl bottles, at 10%. Brighter and more tart than Apenshot, and the best-known little bottle in Dutch bars.
Apenshot if you want something sweet and smooth; Dropshot if you are mainly looking for licorice.
Soft banana with salty licorice
Banana & licorice
Ripe banana up front, with the sweet licorice of black licorice underneath. It smells sweeter than it ultimately tastes.
Sweet and creamy
Full and smooth, almost creamy, with banana and a salty licorice note that comes through at the end. At 14%, the alcohol is barely noticeable.
Short and sweet
Short, sweet finish with a slight salty edge from the licorice. Served ice-cold, that edge is stronger and the sweetness is lower.
Apenshot flavor profile. Dropshot scores lower on fruitiness and higher on strength; Flügel is much more tart and less sweet.
Three ways to drink Apenshot
A sweet 14% shot depends on its temperature. At room temperature, it is syrupy sweet; from the freezer, it is much better balanced.
Ice-cold from the freezer
Put the bottle in the freezer for at least four hours and pour 2 cl into a shot glass. The cold makes it thicker and brings out the salty licorice more, while reducing the sweetness. This is what it was made for.
Glass: shot glass →With cola or Sprite
4 cl Apenshot with 150 ml cola or Sprite over plenty of ice in a highball glass. The banana remains distinctive and the drink becomes lighter; a great way to finish a bottle with more people.
Glass: highball glass →With milk as a dessert shot
3 cl Apenshot with 3 cl cold whole milk in a small glass, stirred briefly. The banana becomes creamy, and the whole thing tastes almost like a milkshake. Surprisingly delicious after a meal.
More shot recipes →Shots and cocktails with Apenshot
Shots
The complete collection of shot recipes, from layered to ice-cold straight from the freezer.
Jägerbomb
A shot glass dropped into a glass of energy drink. Works with any sweet shot.
Apple pie shot
The Dutch dessert shot with apple and cinnamon. Same idea, different flavor.
Rocket
Three colors in one glass, inspired by the ice pop. Fun to experiment with.The right glass for Apenshot
A straight shot glass that can withstand a knock, because more glasses get knocked over at a party than you might think. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Apenshot
Is your question not listed? Check out our cocktail recipes or contact us.
To the cocktail recipes →