Zombie Brain Shot
This totally creepy and absolutely cool zombie brain shot is the ultimate Halloween drink. And it’s as fun to make as it is to shoot – if you dare!
This post contains affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy.
Table of Contents
About Zombie Brain Shot
If you’re looking for a very creepy drink to serve your guests this Halloween, then you’ve come to the right place, because a zombie brain shot is bound to be the ultimate drink challenge.
Have a friend who says they love The Walking Dead? Or a buddy who claims that they live for Halloween each and every year?
Then whip up one of these shots and watch their face when you serve it to them.
You’ll quickly find out just how much of a die-hard zombie fan they really are.
Also known as a zombie brain hemorrhage shot, this drink not only looks like brains but has a unique taste that will leave you wondering… wait, what did I just drink?
But, you see, that’s what’s so great about Halloween. There’s a fine line between creepy and fun, and this shot dances right along it in the best possible way.
But no matter how this shot looks, I promise this drink is 100% edible.
And, not surprisingly, the taste is…. kinda interesting.
There are a lot of flavors going on here, and trust me, you’ll experience them all as this shot makes its way down.
Between the peach, mint, Irish cream, and grenadine, you’ll have a culinary story to tell when it’s all said and done.

What’s in this brain hemorrhage shot?
- Peach schnapps – Acts as the primary base of the shot, giving it a fruity foundation. Its clarity makes it ideal for showcasing the other layered ingredients. I like to think of it as the “embalming fluid.”
- Creme de Menthe – Adds a refreshing minty twist to the drink. The green hue provides a slightly eerie color to the shot, playing up the “zombie” theme.
- Baileys Irish Cream – When poured over a spoon into the schnapps, it creates a curdled, clumpy appearance resembling brains. This effect, combined with its rich and creamy taste, is essential for the “zombie brain” aesthetic and flavor profile of the shot.
- Grenadine – The red hue of grenadine mimics the look of blood, adding to the macabre “zombie” vibe of the shot. It also imparts a touch of fruity sweetness, which complements the peach schnapps.
Why does this shot look like brains?!
The “magic” behind this shot lies in the reaction between the creamy Baileys and the peach schnapps. If you’ve ever seen a drink where Baileys curdles when mixed with something acidic (like certain beers), it’s a similar effect here with the schnapps. The addition of grenadine, a dense syrup, intensifies this effect. Poured last, the grenadine drags the Baileys down, causing more curdling and creating that distinctive “brain” appearance.
It’s all really interesting to watch!

Can you make a bigger batch?
If you’re feeling fearless, then yes, you can make a bigger batch of this shot, even if that means simply serving it in a red solo cup. This drink has no special “effects” (such as layering, gradients, etc.), so it’s perfectly safe to mix this drink and serve it in a big batch.
And in order to make a big batch, all you need to do is measure this drink in parts.
Recipes measured in parts allow for adjustable drink sizes. The measurements they give you (1 part, 1/2 part, etc.) are so you can keep the ratio of the ingredients correct.
For example, let’s say you wanted to make one drink – this typically means you’re using 1 standard shot glass for measuring. So then, when the recipe says “1 part”, you would interpret that amount as “1 standard shot glass” full. If the recipe says “1/2 part”, you’d fill the shot glass halfway so that it’s “1/2 standard shot glass.” OR, let’s say you wanted to make enough drinks for a few friends. When making the drink, you could interpret “1 part” as “1 cup” (or “1/2 part” to “1/2 cup.”)
Given the above, to measure this shot in parts, you would need:
- 4 parts peach schnapps
- 1 part Creme de Menthe
- 2 parts Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 part grenadine
Notes & Tips for This Zombie Brain Hemorrhage
- This drink works best when served in a double-shot glass (2 ounces). If you don’t already have a set, you can get one like what’s pictured above here: 4 piece tall shot glass set.
- When serving this shot (and especially if you plan on making a bunch of these drinks) I highly recommend putting the alcohol ingredients into squeeze bottles. This will help give you more accuracy for creating extra creepy brains!
- The Creme de Menthe in this recipe is only added for a festive color, so you could skip it or use a different color or flavor of alcohol if you wanted.

More great Halloween recipes
How to make a zombie brain shot
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – Start off by adding some peach schnapps to a tall shot glass.

Step 2 – Next, add some Creme de Menthe for a bit of color.

Step 3 – Hold a small spoon over the top of the shot glass and gently pour the Baileys Irish cream over the back, allowing the liquid to fan out and spill into the shot glass. Doing this helps give this shot a lot of nice texture as the cream hits the alcohol.


Step 4 – Add a dash of grenadine for more color and to help pull the Irish cream down.


Step 5 – Shoot and enjoy!

Zombie Brain Shot
Ingredients
- 1 ounce peach schnapps
Instructions
- Fill a double shot glass with peach schnapps, filling shot glass 1/2 way.1 ounce peach schnapps
- Add a splash of Creme de Menthe for a green hue.1/4 ounce Creme de Menthe
- Place a small spoon over top of shot glass, upside down, and pour Baileys over back of spoon so it slides off. Doing this makes Baileys fan out further while pouring, resulting in larger clumps in shot glass. Make a small layer of Baileys, about 1/4 size of shot glass.1/2 ounce Baileys Irish Cream
- Holding grenadine bottle a few inches above shot glass, add a few dashes of syrup, trying to aim for bigger clumps of Baileys. Keep an eye on how Baileys is reacting in shot glass to achieve a "zombie brain" look you want.1/4 ounce grenadine
- Drink and enjoy (if you dare!)
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.