If you aim to be a great bartender, knowing some of the best shot recipes will help you achieve your goal. Well, there are the standard whiskey shot or tequila rose, which are also great!
But people are into Blowjobs, Pink Starburst, and other club soda mixes for various reasons. It is fun to do with friends, it is a quick way to becoming tipsy, and they taste great when well-made.
Knowing the best shots and shooters is critical since it will make your bar even more entertaining. Some of the most famous shot recipes served around the world are listed below. Some are delicious, some are for fun, while others will get you intoxicated quickly. And still, others are ideal for people who have already had enough!
If your guests ask for a suggestion (let’s face it, they usually do when they want to order an unusual shot), consider what you think they’re searching for and select the best option. So let’s start!
The popular bartender shot recipes
1. The ABC
The ABC drink is a combination of absinthe, bacardi 151, and chartreuse. According to the Urban Dictionary, it’s a deadly mix that causes intoxication and loss of willpower fast.
Considering the potency of its components, it’s a very appropriate definition.
- 1/3 shot Bacardi 151 Overproof Rum
- 1/3 shot Chartreuse
- 1/3 shot absinthe
Mix these ingredients in a shot glass, then serve.
2. Alabama Slammer
The Alabama Slammer is a delicious shooter that will not get you intoxicated fast, but it will taste great! Moreover, it’s perfect for lovers of Southern U.S. cuisine.
- 1/3 shot amaretto liqueur
- 1/3 shot sloe gin
- 2/3 shot Southern Comfort peach schnapps liqueur
- 1 1/2 orange juice
Mix these ingredients, shake in a cocktail shaker and strain into shot glasses, then serve.
3. Amaretto Sour
This drink is a customer favorite because it’s smooth without being too sweet, making it great for everyone. It’s the perfect option for those who like to taste their alcohol!
The Amaretto sour is consists of:
- 1 part amaretto liqueur
- 1 part sour mix
- Dash of grenadine syrup
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, then strain into a shot glass and serve.
4. B-52
The B-52 shot is a pousse-café shot that can be set on fire in France. When a triple sec with a high alcohol concentration, such as Cointreau, is used, it can be lit on fire. The triple sec must also be served at room temperature. But even so, achieving so may be difficult in the busy conditions of a bar.
So if you want to go with something that can be ignited, choose another recipe. However, this one is well-known because it tastes fantastic!
- Layer 1/3 shot Kahlúa coffee liqueur
- Layer 1/3 shot Bailey’s Irish cream liqueur
- Layer 1/3 shot Grand Marnier orange liqueur
- Layer 2/3 shot Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
Gently pour each ingredient into a pousse-café glass in the order listed above. Serve only one at a time.
5. Black Russian
In this case, vodka is combined with coffee liqueur. It’s a great option because it’s tasty, doesn’t taste like traditional medicine, and will not get you intoxicated quickly.
- 1/3 shot vodka
- 2/3 shot Kahlua coffee liqueur
Mix these ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, then strain into a shot glass and serve.
6. Blue Hawaiian
It is a great shooter for those who prefer sweet cocktails mixed drinks or for people who have had enough alcohol! You will enjoy its tropical mix of flavors without being overwhelmed by the taste of vodka.
- 1/3 shot vodka
- 2/3 shot blue curacao liqueur
- 1/3 shot cream of coconut
- 1 cup ice
Mix these ingredients in a blender. Blend at high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour into a pousse-café serving glass and serve.
7. Cement Mixer
It’s worth emphasizing straight away that you’re not ordering a cement mixer shot for the sake of its taste. These layered shots are a horrible combination of Bailey’s Irish cream and lime juice that’s meant to leave the drinker feeling terrible.
To make the cream curdle, combine the lime juice and Bailey’s Irish cream in your mouth before swallowing. It feels like you have cement in your mouth rather quickly – not a pleasurable experience, but amusing to observe!
- 1 part lime cordial or lime juice
- Two parts Irish cream liqueur
In a shot glass, carefully layer the drinks in the order listed above. Have the drinker mix the cocktail in their mouth for 10 seconds before swallowing. Watch with interest!
8. Chocolate Martini
This is a sweet shooter that will not get you intoxicated fast, but it’s tasty and easy to make! Moreover, this recipe includes some healthy dark chocolate, making it more suitable for a sophisticated shot.
- 1 part vodka
- 2 parts white crème de cacao liqueur
- 1/2 teaspoon grated dark chocolate or 1/4 ounce semisweet chocolate chips
Mix these ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.
9. Cranberry Margarita
If you want to offer a fruity shooter that’s not too sweet, this is the one! It tastes better than cranberry juice, and it contains other healthy ingredients. As a bonus, the color of this cocktail makes it appealing before you even taste it!
- 1 part tequila
- 2 parts sweet and sour mix
- 1/4 cup cranberry juice
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a salt-rimmed shot glass. Add an orange slice and serve in separate glasses.
10. Hand Grenade
When you’re handing out the Hand Grenade as party shots, be careful. It’s the most deadly mix (along with ‘Tom the Bomb’) on this list, combining two shots of alcohol and a half can of Red Bull. It’s a great way to get guys together in a harsh environment.
To serve this shooter, but the two bottles of alcohol in separate shot glasses. Make sure you place them on opposite sides of the table. Atop each shot glass, pour ½ Red Bull (without mixing yet).
- 1 part white rum
- 1 part rum (Jaegermeister)
- 1/2 can Red Bull energy drink
Fill two shot glasses halfway with white rum and Jaeger. Fill a pint glass halfway with red bull. Balance the shot glasses on top of the rim of the pint glass, with the white rum balanced on top. The drinker is to shoot the white rum after drinking from one of these ‘bombs.’ The Jaeger shot will fall into the red bull, and the energy will mix in like a hand grenade.
11. Lemon Drop Shot
The lemon drop is another tasty shot that’s not too strong, and the lemon drop is an ideal way to start your evening! It has a great taste, and it can be adapted according to your guests’ preferences (some add raspberry syrup or raspberry liqueur).
- ½ shot fresh lemon juice or lime juice
- 1/8 shot simple syrup
- 1/8 shot vodka
The red zest can be expensive especially if using raspberry liqueur, but it gives the drink a sour-sweet taste that contrasts with the intense alcohol. Mix these ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini or pousse-café shot glass and serve.
12. Mudslide
Another layered shots combines many flavors – coffee, cream, chocolate – that separate into layers over time. When you give a Mudslide to each guest, they will enjoy observing how their drink changes before swallowing! The recipe is easy enough for any bartender to make in a snap.
- 1 part coffee liqueur
- 2 parts Irish cream liqueur
- 1/4 cup whipped flavored cream vodka
- cocoa powder for garnish (optional)
Layer the three different liquors in a shot glass. Top with whipped cream vanilla vodka and dust lightly with cocoa if desired. This shot tastes best if you let it separate for a minute or two before serving if you can stand the wait.
13. Tom the Bomb
This recipe combines 2 shots of alcohol and can quickly become deadly because of that! It’s incredibly potent, so be extremely careful when offering it to guests. Also, this shot should only be served to groups of people who are already comfortable with the others in attendance.
- 1 part Jagermeister
- 1 part Rumple Minze peppermint peach schnapps
- ½ can Red Bull energy drink
Fill two shot glasses halfway with Jäger and Rumple Minze peach schnapps, respectively. Fill a pint glass halfway with Red Bull. Balance the shot glasses on top of the rim of the pint glass, with the dark liquor balanced on top. After drinking from one of these ‘ bombs, the drinker is to shoot both beverages at once.’ The Red Bull will mix in like a Tom the Bomb.
14. Kamikaze
According to David Wondrich, the Kamikaze may have been the first ‘shooter’ recipe in the 1970s and there are many variations to these popular shots. It’s done significant damage over time, and it’s still widespread across the world.
Despite its origins, the Kamikaze has evolved into a complex drink comparable to the margarita and daiquiri. In other words, it’s a margarita or daiquiri with vodka.
- 1 part vodka
- ½ part triple sec liqueur
- 2 parts fresh lime juice or lemon juice
- ½ cup ice cubes
- 3 parts sweet-and-sour mix (equal parts lemon juice and simple sugar syrup)
Shake all the ingredients apart from the pureed raspberries in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled, citrus-rimmed rocks glass. Spoon the pureed raspberries on top of this mixture and serve.
15. Tequila Sunrise
This shot is straightforward to make, but it tastes great if made right! It will give you an excellent early afternoon pick-me-up.
- 1 part tequila
- 3 parts orange juice
Pour the tequila into a highball glass filled with ice. Fill the rest of the glass with orange juice and stir it. This shot is best served on the rocks, but if you’re preparing it for others without much experience drinking shots, consider serving it with a straw.
16. Cognac Milk Punch
This is not the same as the standard Brandy Milk Punch but shows you how to make one. It is another sweet shooter that your guests will enjoy!
- 1/8 shot sugar syrup
- 3 parts cognac
- 4 parts milk
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a shot glass. This recipe is great to serve at any event!
17. Whiskey Sour Punch
This recipe is straightforward delicious shots, but it will be appreciated by those who aren’t as familiar with shots as veterans might be.
- 3 parts Irish Whiskey Sour mix (use Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey)
- 1 part lime-lemon juice soda
Pour the ingredients into a highball shot glass filled with ice. Stir well and serve. For a little extra flair, add a garnish of a lime wheel or lemon wedge on the rim of the glass.
18. Flatliner
It is a fantastic shot recipe that you’ll have a lot of fun with. The Tabasco sauce adds spice to the mixture, and when prepared correctly, it creates a striking appearance. Remember that each additional amount of hot sauce will make it worse.
- 1/2 shot sambuca
- 1/2 tequila
- 4-6 drops of Tabasco
Add the sambucas to the shot glass. Cover the tequila with layers of it. Circle and drop the Tabasco sauce in a circular pattern; make sure it falls through the tequila and creates an even layer on top of the Sambucca, giving it an illusion that the Tabasco sauce is suspended halfway through the tequila.
19. Tequila Tromba
This recipe is pretty simple, but it goes down easy and tastes great! It’s one of the best shots recipes you’ll make for guests who aren’t familiar with shots or shooters. The ingredients are:
- 1 part tequila
- ¼ sliced grapefruit
Pour a 1-ounce shot of tequila into a chilled shot glass. Add grapefruit juice until it reaches the top of the glass. For extra flair, you can add a garnish of grapefruit peel on the side of the rim of the glass.
20. Cherry Bomb
This is another recipe that’s extremely simple to create but tastes great! It’s one of the best shots for bartenders to master because it’s great to serve alongside other shooters or cocktails. You can use cherry liqueur for a more intense effect.
- 1 part vodka
- ½ part cherry juice
- ¼ cup cranberry juice
Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a shot glass. This recipe is ready to serve!
21. Vegas Bomb
The Vegas Bomb is a lethal combination of caffeine, sugar, and alcohol popular among bomb shooters. It aims to provide partygoers in crazier party cities like Las Vegas and Ibiza with rocket fuel for their wild weekends.
- 3/4 shot fresh lime juice
- 3/4 shot cranberry juice
- 3/4 shot peach schnapps
- 3/4 shot vanilla vodka
Shake in a cocktail shaker, strain, and serve in 4 shot glasses.
22. Shamrock Shooter
An alternative to the Irish Car Bomb is this Shamrock Shooter. Whether you’re throwing a St. Patrick’s Day party or just feeling a little green, this two-layered Shamrock Shooter includes Irish Cream and Midori to bring some color into your life.
- 3/4 shot Irish Cream
- 3/4 shot Midori
Leave a little bit of room at the top of an old-fashioned glass. Pour the Irish cream on the bottom and cover with about 1-2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup. Next, pour in the Midori and serve.
23. Salty Dog Shooter
This is an excellent party shot for bartenders to have in their repertoire because it’s a classic that many guests will be familiar with. It’s also simple, so you can create it quickly or even mix it up as a last-minute addition to your drinks list.
- 3 parts grapefruit juice
- 1 part vodka
Pour grapefruit juice into a shot glass. Add the vodka and serve. For a little extra flair, add a lime peel on the rim of the shot glass for garnish.
24. Burnt Almond Shooter
This is another excellent shot to mix up and serve quickly! It’s also another recipe that will go down nice and smooth because it tastes great. The ingredients are:
- 1 part amaretto
- 1 part light cream
Add the ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a shot glass. Add your garnish if you’d like, and feel free to serve it alongside another shooter!
25. Jaeger Bomb Shot
This recipe is an equal parts mixture of Jagermeister, Red Bull, and citrus. You’ll be able to serve it quickly or even have guests help you create the shot themselves with this easy-to-follow recipe.
- 1 part Red Bull
- 1 part Jagermeister
Pour Red Bull into a shot glass. Add the Jagermeister and serve.
26. Slippery Nipple
This is another classic shooter made with equal parts Bailey’s Irish Cream and butterscotch schnapps. If you’re not familiar with the drink, it’s also known as a Milky Way or just a plain nipple by some. This shooter goes down smooth and tastes just as good.
- 1 part Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 part butterscotch schnapps
Add the Baileys to a shot glass. Gently add the butterscotch schnapps on top, and serve!
27. Scorpion Shot
This is another shooter that’s simple to create and tastes great. It serves as a tribute to the Scorpion Bowl, an alcoholic punch consisting of rum, gin, vodka, tequila, triple sec, and fruit juices. The ingredients are:
- 1 part rum
- 1 part gin
- ½ part vodka
- ½ part tequila
- ½ part triple sec
- 5 parts orange juice
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake well—Strain into a shot glass. Serve, and enjoy!
Conclusion
Whatever your profession, you’ll almost certainly need to know a few useful popular shots and bartending skills. Bartenders are no different – in fact, bartenders must be well-versed in a particular type of layered shot or shooter. They need to know how to do it quickly and easily without much thought because their hands will likely be full already.
Everyone also has their tastes for shooters, so bartenders need to make the classic recipes and know-how to create shots based on their preferences. Ultimately, these are the great shot recipes every bartender needs to master.