Name: Shaft · Cocktail recipe
Prep time: 4 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 60 ml Cold Brew Coffee (strong and chilled); 30 ml Vodka; 30 ml Irish Cream; 15 ml Coffee Liqueur

Drink type Servings

Measurement system

About measurement options

Metric (ml): Volumes are shown in millilitres or litres.
US (fl oz, cups and spoons): Uses US fluid ounces, cups and spoons. 1 US fl oz ≈ 29.57 ml.
Imperial (UK and Canada): The UK and Canada share the imperial fluid ounce. 1 imperial fl oz ≈ 28.41 ml. Small volumes are shown in ml.
Bar (parts and dashes): On CocktailFun, 1 part = 30 ml. Dashes stay as dashes. Very small volumes may be shown in ml.

Shaft

Description

What it is: A cold-brew coffee cocktail with vodka, Irish cream and coffee liqueur: creamy, caffeinated and built for a short, cold serve.

The story: The Shaft is generally credited to bartender Mark Smith at The Living Room in Calgary around 2000. Early versions were simpler espresso-based pick-me-ups; the drink evolved as it spread through western Canada, particularly Victoria, where vodka and Irish cream became common.

Why it works: Cold brew gives a smooth coffee base, vodka provides structure, Irish cream rounds the edges and coffee liqueur reinforces roasted sweetness. Its appeal is less about garnish and more about temperature and texture.

Ingredients

60 ml Cold Brew Coffee (strong and chilled)
30 ml Vodka
30 ml Irish Cream
15 ml Coffee Liqueur

Equipment needed

Cocktail Shaker – For chilling and integrating coffee with cream liqueur. Fine Mesh Strainer – For a clean pour.

Instructions

Chill a lowball glass and fill it with fresh ice.
Add cold brew coffee, vodka, Irish cream and coffee liqueur to a shaker with ice.
Shake briskly until very cold.
Fine strain over the fresh ice in the lowball glass.
Serve without garnish so the coffee aroma remains the focus.