15 Shots EVERY Bartender Should Know

A key part of any bartender’s skill set is knowing how to make a variety of shots.

No matter if you’re working at a dive bar or a fine establishment, shots are popular for their quick, intense flavors and their ability to liven up the atmosphere.

This post focuses on 15 shots every bartender should know, so get your pen and paper at the ready and take notes.

Ranging from timeless classics to contemporary favorites, each with its unique character and appeal.

From the sharp zest of a Lemon Drop or the complexity of a Kamikaze, these shots offer a diverse palette of tastes to suit any preference.

Let’s take a look…

1. Lemon Drop Shot

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Vodka
• 1/2 ounce Triple Sec
• 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup (adjust to taste)
• Sugar (for rimming the glass)
• Lemon twist (for garnish)

How to Make:

• Rim a shot glass with a lemon wedge and coat it with sugar. Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, strain into the shot glass, and garnish with a lemon twist.

2. Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shots

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Vanilla vodka
• 1 oz Pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz Butterscotch schnapps
• 1 splash Grenadine
• Maraschino cherry
• Ice

How to Make:

Combine vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, and butterscotch schnapps in a shaker with crushed ice. Shake and strain into a shot glass. Add a splash of grenadine and garnish with a maraschino cherry. 

3. Kamikaze

Ingredients:

• ½ oz Vodka
• ½ oz Orange liqueur
• ½ oz Lime juice

How to Make:

Shake vodka, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a shaker with ice cubes. Serve in a shot or cocktail glass with ice.

4. Lucky Leprechaun Shots

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Melon liqueur
• 1 oz Coconut rum
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Splash of club soda
• Ice cubes

How to Make:

Combine melon liqueur, coconut rum, lime juice, and simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a shot glass. Top it with a splash of club soda.

5. Buttery Nipple Shots

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Butterscotch schnapps
• 1 oz Irish cream liqueur

How to Make:

This shot is simple to a whiskey sour and can be prepared by shaking butterscotch schnapps and Irish cream liqueur with ice before serving in an old-fashioned glass.

6. Purple Hooter Shots

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Vodka
• 1 and a half teaspoons Raspberry liqueur
• 1.5 oz Lime juice

How to Make:

Prepare a delightful shot by combining vodka, raspberry liqueur, and fresh lime juice. Shake the ingredients, then strain into the prepared shot glass for a burst of flavor.

7. Liquid Marijuana Shot

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon Midori
• 1 tablespoon Spiced rum
• 1 tablespoon Blue Curacao
• 1 tablespoon Coconut rum
• 1 ½ tablespoons Sweet and sour
• 1 ½ cup pineapple juice

How to Make:

Craft layered shots by skillfully combining Midori, spiced rum, blue curacao, coconut rum, sweet and sour, and pineapple juice. Pour each ingredient with precision for a visually stunning and flavorful experience.

8. Blue Suicide

Ingredients:

• ⅔ oz 151 proof rum
• ⅔ oz Blue Curacao
• ⅔ oz Everclear

How to Make:

Mix 151 proof rum, blue curacao, and Everclear for a potent and intense shot. Serve with care due to its strength.

9. Watermelon Candy Shots

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz Tequila
• 2-4 dashes Hot sauce
• 1 ½ Watermelon schnapps
• Lime juice for garnish
• Tajin (for glass rim)

How to Make:

Combine tequila, hot sauce, watermelon schnapps, and lime juice. Rim the glass with Tajin for a spicy and flavorful shot.

10. Pickleback Shots

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ Irish Whiskey
• 1 ½ Pickle brine
• Pickle (as a chaser)

How to Make:

Take a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle brine. Serve with a pickle for a simple and tangy shot experience.

This one isn’t for everyone but give it a try and you might be surprised.

11. Mosquito Bite

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Sour apple juice
• 1 splash Melon liqueur
• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 splash Grenadine

How to Make:

Combine sour apple juice, melon liqueur, vodka, and grenadine.

Serve in a rocks glass for a sweet and tasty shot.

12. Tootsie Roll

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Kahlua (coffee liqueur)
• 3/4 oz Orange juice

How to Make:

Mix both the ingredients together well and serve in a shot glass for a delightful and easy shot.

13. Snickers Shot

Ingredients:

• 5 oz Kahlua
• 5 oz Hazelnut liqueur
• 5 oz Baileys

How to Make:

Combine Kahlua, hazelnut liqueur, and Baileys, then serve in a shot glass with a delightful topping of whipped cream.

14. Cherry Bomb Shot

Ingredients:

• Splash Grenadine
• 1 oz Cherry vodka
• 3 oz Energy drink

How to Make:

Mix the grenadine, cherry vodka, and energy drink like Red Bull together to create this popular shot.

Serve in a shot glass.

15. Jolly Rancher

Ingredients:

• 2 oz lime juice
• 2 oz Midori melon liquor
• 2 oz Apple tequila

How to Make:

Add lime juice, apple tequila, and Midori melon liquor to a cocktail shaker with ice before giving it a good shake and straining it into a shot glass.

Final Words

As bartending continues to evolve, learning to master the most popular shots is a great way to separate yourself from the crowd.

As you perfect these shots, you’re not only developing your technical skills but also adapting to the tastes and expectations of patrons today.

Keep these shots in your repertoire, practice them often, and you’ll be well-equipped to impress customers in any bartending environment.

See you next time!