Triethylborane (cocktail)

Triethylborane is a shooter containing a measure of absinthe and a few drops of habanero sauce.

It is named for triethylborane, a pyrophoric compound used as an igniter in the Pratt & Whitney J58 engine, the powerplant for the SR-71. The J58 used 50 ml of TEB to ignite the very inert JP-7 fuel, both when starting the engine and when igniting the afterburner. Consequently, a classic shot of TEB should be served as a double measure.

Other pepper-like sauces may be used, or alternatively, absinthe may be infused with chili peppers. TEB should be bracingly, rather than unpleasantly hot. Ideally it should be somewhere around 200–250 on the Scoville scale, based on a dilution of 7–8 drops of habanero sauce into 50 ml of absinthe.