After Shock Red Hot & Cool Cinnamon

After Shock Red Hot and Cool Cinnamon is the cinnamon expression of the After Shock range, made by Beam Suntory and bottled at 30%. It was launched in 1999 as a party drink and built a following in England, helped along by an urban legend that the liqueur crystallises in the stomach overnight, a story with no basis that nonetheless became part of its bar room reputation. The draw is straightforward, an intense, sweet and spicy cinnamon hit.

The nose is spicy with cinnamon, the palate intense and hot with cinnamon, clove and ginger over orange peel and vanilla, finishing long and warming. Behind the bar it works as a sweet, fiery cinnamon note, adding heat and warm baking spice to a drink, which is why it lives mainly as an ice cold shot and lends a spicy edge to autumn and winter serves. Serve it straight from the freezer where the cold tames the burn, drop it into a cola or cider for a spiced long drink, or use a dash to warm a stirred cocktail.