Are you looking to find out which are the top shots at present and hopefully make some? Well, I am here to help. Let’s get started. Shots also go by the name shooters, and they comprise of either spirits or mixed drinks.
People serve them in the ranges of one ounce or thereabouts, and you will notice that people down them in a gulp owing to their size. Shooting them down fast is one of the fun things about these drinks.
You may find that some people opt to serve them as sides to larger drink quantities which is also acceptable. There are a handful of methods in which you can serve shots, and they include shaking, layering and stirring.
However, some of the times call for simplicity, and it is in such cases that you can opt to pour the drinks. You can serve shots in shot glasses, or sherry glasses and the choice depends on what pleases you or your guests most.
You will often find shots in bars where bartenders will play about with the ingredients to add some signature to the drinks. As such, you will see that the components used vary from one region to the other and from one bartender to the other.
It is common to discover that two shots share a name, but they differ in ingredients and thus in taste. In my guide, I will take you through the best shots that you can find, and I will also include recipes of shots that I have made over the years and which have turned out great. Enjoy!
Types of Shots
From fruity shots to whiskey shots all the way to birthday shots, there is no drink that you cannot make with some imagination in play. Here are some of the popular shooter recipes taking the day at present.
Beer Shots
In these shots, you require a whiskey and a beer, and you have all the ingredients that you need. Examples of the same include the boilermaker, the U-boot, the snakebite, and the Irish car bomb. Have a look:
The Boilermaker
This shot is one of the easiest that you will ever make and it consists of a whiskey shot and a beer. You can have the beer poured into a glass, or you can sip it straight from the bottle, depending on what you like. When it comes to shots, not many restrictions are in place, thus making their preparation quite fun.
This shot came about in the 19th century where engine workers, also known as boilermakers at the time, would turn to bars at the end of their work days to let go of some of the stress. Soon, bartenders coined a name for the drink which had become a favorite for their frequenters.
There are many ways in which people take this shot. Some people insist that one should first down the beer shot and chase it with some beer while others feel that you should alternate the beer and the beer shot for the perfect combo.
There are others who argue that you should have the beer shot prepared in a glass before downing it. Though there are many views as to how people should enjoy this drink, there is one thing that all boilermaker lovers agree on, and this is that anyone taking the beer shot should do so with as much enthusiasm as they can gather.
You will require:
- 12 ounces of beer
- 1 ½ ounce of whiskey
Directions
Start by filling a pint glass with a beer of your choice before pouring some whiskey into a shot glass. Your choice of enjoying the shot should depend on what you prefer. I have tried all methods, and I prefer alternating the whiskey and the beer. Try them all out and see what gets you singing.
The Snakebite
I first tried out this drink owing to the allure of its name. On downing it, I realized that it lived up to its name and I have not looked back since then. It is a classic British drink that calls for apple cider and lager in equal parts. In the US, you will find that most people opt to use darker beers or stouts instead of lagers.
You can also add some liqueur to the drink to make it more flavorful. The great thing about it is that it does not matter how you go about making it as it will wow you in the end. If you are looking to impress someone with your bartending skills, I highly recommend that you try doing so with this drink. Here is what you will need:
- Lager or stout
- Cider
It is vital that you note that you will use equal parts of the ingredients listed and as such, you are free to make as much of the drink as you want.
Directions
You should start by chilling a beer glass for at least ten minutes before half-filling it with cider. Next, add lager or stout to the drink, depending on what you like, and you can now serve the alcohol. Whoever sips it will surely enjoy it and will be asking for more in no time.
Non-alcoholic Base Good Shots
If you wish to try a fantastic drink that is non-alcoholic, try one of the following: jager bomb, jager bomb switch or Geritol. When it comes to these drinks, it is quite simple; you will either love or hate them. In-betweeners are pretty few in this regard. The good thing about them is that any bartender worth their salt will know their way around making one, and you can always get one at the bar. You can also choose to make your own which will be way more fun!
The Jager Bomb
This drink will take up three minutes in total, including the prep and cook time. This recipe yields enough for one person, but given the time it takes to make one shot, you should have no trouble whipping up drinks for your guests, one after the other. It is essential that you note that this drink is not for lightweights and you should take note of how many you are taking before you find yourself in a ditch or worse.
Jagermeister is the main ingredient in this shot, and you should know that it is very potent. Where the depressant effects of alcohol would often kick in to help you stay in control, this is not the case with this shot as Red Bull takes over and gives you the energy you need to keep going. As such, you could find that you have taken one too many shots without realizing it.
Some people now make this drink by pouring the jager shot into the Red Bull directly, thus doing away with the bombing. Be sure to take caution in preparation. There have been cases where people got hit by shot glasses, and they had to make a detour to the dentist’s office, owing to broken teeth.
You will require the following:
- 1 ½ ounce of Jagermeister
- ½ a can of Red Bull energy drink
Directions
You should first fill a shot glass with the Jagermeister before filling a tall glass with Red Bull. Next, drop the shot glass into the tall glass and enjoy the drink immediately. The preparation is an exhilarating event, and you will enjoy it as much as you will enjoy the drink.
Irish Cream Shots
When it comes to tasty shots, these drinks take the lead. Some of the favorite shooter recipes include ABC, Arrow Bar, Carrot Cake, Luke’s Prediction and Martian Hard On. They make for great girly shots.
The ABC
This drink gets its name owing to its ingredients which are Amaretto, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Cognac. To make it, you will require the following components:
- 15 ml of Amaretto liqueur
- 15 ml of Bailey’s Irish Cream
- 15 ml of Cognac
Directions
You need to chill all the listed ingredients for at least twenty minutes before embarking on preparation. Start by pouring in the Amaretto, followed by the cream and finish up with the cognac. No garnish is necessary to make this drink the dream that it is.
Layered Shooters
If you are looking for something that will have you playing around with concepts for the perfect outcome, these are the drinks for you.
Favorite shots in this category include the After Eight, the Bloody Brain, the B 52, the Baby Guinness, the Blow Job, the Buttery Nipple, the China White, the Alien Nipple, and the Cement Mixer. Others include the Cocksucking Cowboy, the Duck Fart, the Quick Fuck, the Scooby Gang, the GF Shooter, the Frozen Nipple, the Twisted Nipple, and the Rattlesnake.
The Cement Mixer
The reactions you will get towards this drink will vary, but one thing is for sure, you will have fun watching people down it. At present, this drink ranks as one of the most famous shots across the globe.
The funny thing though is that most people who try it find it to be one of the most disgusting shots that they have ever taken; maybe the name should be a hint as to its texture. It is thus shocking to find that it ranks so high in popularity.
Its taste though is quite pleasant as the combo works great.
Its surface is like that which you would experience if you were to try downing concrete as you will soon find out on preparing this drink. For people who find it easy to gag on food textures that they are not accustomed to, trying this drink might not be the best idea as it can be hard to get down. However, if you feel that you are up to the task, gear up for the time of your life.
Here is what you need:
- ½ an ounce of lime juice
- 1 ½ ounce of Bailey’s Irish Cream
Ensure that the Irish cream you use is chilled so that you can get the best results.
Directions
Start by pouring the cream into a big shot glass before floating the lime juice at the top. You could also opt to splash in the lime juice as this will not affect its taste. Here is what happens once you do this. Irish cream contains fats, and once they combine with the acid in the lime juice, the resultant mix is a thick and lumpy slurry.
The longer you wait for it to settle, the thicker it becomes and the more it begins to look like you are downing cottage cheese. It is also vital that you do not use too much lime juice or else the mix will be too thick for you to down without gagging.
You can enjoy this drink in two ways.
The first one involves taking the shot in your mouth, shaking your head fast and swallowing it hard. In this way, your mouth will be like a cement mixer as the name suggests. For people who have trouble downing the drink owing to its thickness, there is another way in which you can take it. Start by pouring the Irish cream and lime juice in separate glasses.
Start by drinking the Irish cream and holding it in your mouth before adding the lime juice. Proceed to shake your head before downing the drink. In this way, the reaction will take place in your mouth, and this should be very exciting. It is a great idea to have a glass of water nearby to help you cleanse your mouth as you recover from the shot. I regularly have a good laugh once I serve this to unsuspecting guests.
Rum Shots
As is the case with Irish cream shots, rum shots also have mixed and layered shooters, and it all depends on how you like your drinks.
In this category, we have the BMW, Captain Kinger, Monkey Bite, and the Virgin Islands boilermaker, Laake and Wake and the Caribbean Prairie Fire.
The BMW Shot
This drink is quite easy to craft, and you should have a blast doing so. It gets its name from its components. You will require the following ingredients:
- 1/3 part whiskey
- 1/3 part Malibu rum
- 1/3 part Bailey’s Irish Cream
Directions
Add all the listed ingredients in a cocktail shaker and proceed to shake for the next ten to fifteen seconds. You can then strain the mix into a cocktail glass and enjoy.
Layered Rum Shots
There are three favorite shots in this regard, and they include the Flaming B-52, the Gorilla Fart and the Oreo Cookie.
The Oreo Cookie Shot
The thing that charms me most about this drink is that it has a taste quite similar to that of the cookie. As such, if you are a fan of Oreo cookies, this shot will have you on cloud nine.
- 1 ounce of Kahlua
- One ounce of Crème de Cacao
- 1 ounce of Bailey’s Irish Cream
- One splash of vodka
Directions
In the manner listed above, layer the ingredients in a chilled shot glass before topping them off with vodka. The result will have you curling your toes in pleasure.
Tequila Shots
Tequila shots are widespread across the globe, owing to the fun involved in downing them as well as their fun side effects like bringing out the party animal in you. It thus fits that they too should have many variations to help you get the most out of them.
Here we have the Jackson Five, the Tequila Slammer, the TNT, the Tequesso, the Four Horsemen, the Tequila Stuntman and the Mexican Prairie Fire.
The Tequila Slammer
Get to enjoy a whole new side of tequila by enjoying this drink. You require tequila and champagne in equal parts. Start by pouring the tequila into a shot glass before layering it with some champagne. Cover the top of the glass with your palm before lifting and slamming the shot glass on the counter before downing the drink. Ensure that you take the shot while it is still fizzing.
Layered shots
When it comes to layered tequila shots, my favorite remains the flatliner.
The Flatliner
For this shot, you will require:
- 2/3 part Sambuca
- 2/3 part tequila
- One splash of hot sauce
Start by adding sambuca to a shot glass before floating hot sauce and tequila over it and downing the shot. It is quite intense, and you will feel it as it moves through your system.
Vodka shots
My list would not be complete if I failed to add some shots with vodka.
You can enjoy a wide range of mixed vodka shots, including Ankle Lock, Kamikaze, Lemon Drop and Coppertone.
Kamikaze
If you want to get the party mood started, these easy shots for bartenders are the way to go. You should note that this drink is quite strong and you should, therefore, pace yourself. That said, you will require the following:
- 1 ½ ounce of vodka
- 1 ounce of triple sec
- ½ an ounce of lime juice
Directions
Start by adding all the ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain the mixture into two shot glasses and enjoy the party.
The sky is the limit when it comes to the shots that you can make. Keep gravity in mind and all will be fine. I hope that you enjoyed my best shots recipes. Remember to have lots of fun!
