Mixologists have begun to use liquid nitrogen in their drinks. It’s trendy, but dangerous — sometimes a drinker’s stomach explodes. — Click to Tweet.
It is said to give drinks a smoky, “mysterious” look, but it presents a huge health risk, as English teen Gaby Scanlan recently discovered. While partying in celebration of her 18th birthday, she ingested a drink that was made using Jagermeister and liquid nitrogen. After becoming breathless and experiencing severe stomach pain, she was rushed to Lancaster Royal Hospital, where she underwent a gastrectomy to save her life.
Drink presentation — Risk vs. Reward
Despite the fact that liquid nitrogen is minus-321 degrees Fahrenheit and can cause everything from cryogenic burns to permanent frostbite, it is still popular with mixologists due to the dramatic presentation effects it can have on drinks.
While bartenders who incorporate liquid nitrogen in drinks are trained in how to properly use it, it still presents a huge health risk. If too much liquid nitrogen is used, it is possible for it to seep into the drink, where, upon ingestion, it can cause frostbite-like burns to the upper airway and throat, which can lead to troubles breathing.
Liquid nitrogen is normally incorporated by pouring it into a glass, swirling it until it vaporizes, and then pouring the drink. It causes the glass to smoke, and adds a mysterious aura to the drink. It has been hypothesized that the bartender didn’t properly swirl the liquid nitrogen, causing it to end up in Gaby’s drink.
Mixology — The Mad Science Of Alcohol
Gaby’s ordeal has had far-reaching implications. Not only has the bar she attended been ordered to stop using liquid nitrogen, but other bars in England have also opted to play it safe and get rid of it as well.
But other mixologists are arguing that this is an isolated case. Bartenders who are trained in the usage of liquid nitrogen are taught how to ensure that no liquid nitrogen ends up in the drink itself. They are told to not over-chill the glass, because, when combined with liquid nitrogen and alcohol, it can affect your sense of taste. Also, if liquid nitrogen does somehow end up in the drink, bartenders can easily spot it, because it floats to the top of the drink.
So despite all these potential safety problems, liquid nitrogen isn’t going anywhere. It seems risky, but as long as it’s in the hands of a professional, mixologists insist that drinkers have nothing to fear.
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