Triethylborane (cocktail)
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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 50ml 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 50ml of absinthe.
