Mind Eraser Cocktail: Easy to Remember

You'll never forget the Mind Eraser cocktail thanks to its easy recipe and fun flavors.

Mind EraserPhoto by2foodtrippers

We have vague memories of drinking Mind Eraser cocktails back in the 1990s, a decade after the layered cocktail was a star at NYC discotheques and lounges around the world.

However, now that we've crafted Mind Erasers at home, we can't forget the caffeinated cocktail with stark similarities to the Black Russian.

What Is a Mind Eraser?

It would be easy to call the Mind Eraser a fizzy Black Russian or a Black Russian with bubbles since that's essentially what it is. But not exactly.

Yes, the Mind Eraser drink starts with the Black Russian's two ingredients, coffee liqueur and vodka, and adds soda water to the mix. But, unlike the Black Russian, the Mind Eraser's ingredients are layered. Plus, it's typically served with a straw.

In other words, the Mind Eraser is its own tasty thing.

Fun Fact: The Mind Eraser shot is a smaller version of the Mind Eraser cocktail.

History of the Mind Eraser

It seems that the inventor of the Mind Eraser has been erased from cocktail history.

We can easily trace the Black Russian's creation to Gustave Tops at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels back in 1949. But we don't know who layered the Black Russian's two liquors while finishing the resulting cocktail with fizzy water.

Did that barman or barwoman come up with the Mind Eraser's name and did he or she serve the original Mind Eraser with a straw? We simply do not know the answers to these questions. Does it really matter? No, it does not.

Ingredients

The Mind Eraser's ingredient list is so short that assembling them shouldn't hurt your brain. In fact, we won't be surprised if you have already have the following required ingredients:

• 2 ounces vodka
• 2 ounces coffee liqueur
• 2 ounces fizzy water
• ice cubes

Coffee Liqueur

Not only does coffee liqueur taste delicious over ice, it's also a key ingredient in Black Russian, Espresso Martini, Mudslide and White Russian cocktails. We typically use Kahlúa when crafting those cocktails as well as Mind Erasers

Sure, you could use another coffee liqueur like Australia's Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur or Jamaica's Tia Maria, but Mexico's Kahlúa is a classic cocktail ingredient. Although most Kahlúa bottles have a 16% ABV, ours has a 20% ABV. We're not sure why our bottle's ABV is higher but we're not complaining.

Vodka

Since any vodka will work in our Mind Eraser recipe, we recommend using your favorite brand. We typically use Absolut Vodka since that's our current vodka of choice. Distilled in Sweden, this vodka has a 40% ABV.

How to Craft a Mind Eraser Cocktail

Start this recipe by adding ice to a lowball glass.

Measure the coffee liqueur and pour it into the ice-filled glass. We use a Japanese jigger to measure this and other cocktail ingredients to ensure accurate measurements and avoid spillage.

Float the vodka by slowly pouring the clear liquor onto the back side of a bar spoon. This floating approach creates a vodka layer on top of the coffee liqueur

Top the glass with fizzy water by floating the fizzy water on the back of a spoon just like you did when you floated the vodka.

No garnishes are necessary though you'll want to add a short straw both for decoration and sipping.

Variations

If your mind is up to the challenge, mix things up by trying the following Mind Eraser variations:

• Omit the fizzy water to craft a Black Russian cocktail.
• Omit the fizzy water and add cream to craft a White Russian cocktail.
• Reduce the three ingredients from 2 ounces each to 0.5 ounce to craft a Mind Eraser shot.
• Replace the fizzy water with lemon juice to craft a Black Magic cocktail.
• Replace the fizzy water with Irish cream liqueur to craft a Blind Russian cocktail.
• Replace the fizzy water with ginger ale to craft a Brown Russian cocktail.
• Replace the fizzy water with lemon-lime soda or ginger ale to craft a sweeter Mind Eraser cocktail.

This recipe was originally published on 2foodtrippers. Consider subscribing to 2foodtrippers if you enjoyed it.