South African cocktail · shaken
Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot) recipe
South Africa's milk tart as a shooter — vodka, condensed milk and milk, dusted with cinnamon.
A Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot) is 15 ml (14.1 g) Vodka, 15 ml (19.5 g) Condensed Milk and 15 ml (15.5 g) Milk, shaken and served in a shot glass. It pours to about 45 ml before ice, at roughly 13.3% ABV. Weighing the ingredients instead of measuring them is what keeps the balance identical from one round to the next.
- Glassshot glass
- Methodshaken
- Pour volume45 ml
- Strength (est.)13.3% ABV
- Time3 min
Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot) ingredients — in millilitres and grams
Grams are what the PourPilot coaster actually targets. They are not the same as the millilitres: a spirit is lighter than water, a syrup is heavier, so 30 ml of one is never 30 g. The right-hand column is the density we use, in grams per millilitre.
| Ingredient | Volume | Weight | g/ml | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 15 ml | 14.1 g | 0.94 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Condensed Milk | 15 ml | 19.5 g | 1.30 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Milk | 15 ml | 15.5 g | 1.03 | dust with cinnamon |
How to make a Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot)
- Set your shot glass on the scale (or on the PourPilot coaster) and zero it. Every measurement below is given in millilitres and in grams, so you can use either.
- Add Vodka, Condensed Milk and Milk to a shaker, weighing each ingredient rather than eyeballing a jigger.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled shot glass.
- Garnish: Dust with cinnamon.
Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot): the questions people actually ask
How strong is a Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot)?
Roughly 13.3% ABV as poured, before the ice dilutes it — typically another 15–25% water by the time you finish stirring or shaking. Medium strength. About the same as a fortified wine, poured short.
What glass should a Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot) be served in?
A shot glass. Fill it with fresh ice, not the ice you mixed with.
Can I make a Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot) without a jigger?
Yes — that is what the gram column is for. Put the glass or tin on a kitchen scale, zero it, and pour to the weight. It is more accurate than a jigger because nothing is left clinging to the inside of the measure. The PourPilot coaster does the same thing without you having to watch a display: it lights up as you approach the target and tells you when to stop.
If you like the Melktertjie (Milk Tart Shot)
Amarula Espresso Martini
The espresso martini gone South African — marula cream, vodka and fresh espresso.
Durban Poison
A green tropical stinger from the east coast — cane spirit, melon liqueur, pineapple and lime.
Soweto Sunrise
A township twist on the sunrise — vodka and orange juice over a slow-sinking grenadine dawn.
Cape of Good Hope
Cape brandy shaken with Van der Hum tangerine liqueur, lemon and a touch of sugar.
Dom Pedro
South Africa's beloved dessert cocktail — whisky blended with vanilla ice cream and cream.
Springbokkie
The green-and-gold layered shooter — peppermint liqueur under a float of Amarula. Rugby fuel.