Hosting a holiday party and want it to give it that special Christmas feel? You need to make some Christmas shots…
Here’s 12 of the best shot recipes for Christmas for you to make this holiday season. They’re sure to get the festive feeling going, as well as the party. So let’s get into it…
1. Tiramisu shots
A winner at the dinner table and a winner as a shot, the tiramisu is iconic in the dessert world. Everyone knows what it is and they just can’t seem to get enough of it. Now, just imagine this but in a drinkable form. Giving you hits of coffee and cream, just how mama used to make it. What an excellent Christmas shot recipe to kick us off with…
Ingredients:
- 30ml Kahlua
- 30ml Irish cream
- 30ml double cream
- Whipped cream
Method:
- Step 1 – Add the Kahlua to a shot glass.
- Step 2 – With a cocktail shaker, shake up the Irish cream and double cream. Then, slowly pour them into the shot glass.
- Step 3 – Garnish with some whipped cream and a generous dusting of cocoa powder.
2. Christmas Jell-O shot
We couldn’t make a list like this. and not include a Christmas Jell-O shot recipe somewhere. It just wouldn’t be Christmassy!
Packed full of all the flavours you’d expect from a festive shot, this will get you in the mood for Yule quicker than watching Home Alone on Christmas Eve. All we advise is to make sure you stick to the recipe for this one. The last thing you want is a green snot Jell-O shot making its way down someone’s throat.
Ingredients:
- 500ml water
- 1 green Jell-O packet
- 180ml peppermint schnapps
- 180ml spiced rum
- Whipped cream
Method:
- Step 1 – Bring the water to the boil and add in the Jell-O packet. Best to transfer this into a bowl, as it’ll be easier to work with.
- Step 2 – Add in the alcohol and stir well.
- Step 3 – Pour into your shot glasses and allow to cool before placing them in the fridge to set.
- Step 4 – Serve up your creations! Garnish with whipped cream and some colourful sprinkles.
3. Grinch shot
Up next is another green Christmas shot and something just as festive! Despite being the anti-Christ of Christmas, the Grinch really does capture all of our hearts during this time of the year. A heart-warming tale of the holiday spirit changing a monster’s outlook on life. Let’s all take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas with a Grinch shot.
Ingredients:
- 15ml green crème de menthe
- 15ml white crème de menthe
- 15ml single cream
Method:
- Step 1 – Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake it up well.
- Step 2 – Strain into shot glasses and serve.
If you’re hosting a Christmas party that requires a bit more alcoholic stamina, look at some easy Christmas cocktails to see the Grinch shot’s big brother, the Grinch Cocktail!
4. Lemon Drop
Now, onto a little classic shot. It’s not strictly for the season, however it’s such a nice shot, we’d be humbugs not to include it. If you’re a fan of sweet lemony flavours, or limoncello, then you’ll definitely love a Lemon Drop. Finish off the shot with a sugar-coated lemon, as a sweet alternative to a tequila shot.
Ingredients:
- 20ml vodka
- 10ml fresh lemon juice
- 10ml sugar syrup
Method:
- Step 1 – Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well.
- Step 2 – Fine strain the mixture into a shot glass. Garnish with a sugar-coated lemon wedge for extra effect!
5. Santa shot
Love a gimmick? The Santa shot is sure to fulfill your desires. These are layered shots that sit pretty on top of a party spread. In terms of taste, imagine chewing a strawberry, spearmint and peppermint piece of gum all at once. Of course, it’s not strictly like this, but it’s not far off.
If you’re a Christmas fanatic, we don’t think you’ll really care about the taste. It’s all in the look, remember!
Ingredients:
- 15ml grenadine
- 15ml green crème de menthe
- 15ml peppermint schnapps
Method:
- Step 1 – In the order given above, add each ingredient to a shot glass. This must be done slowly and gently to avoid the layers mixing with each other. And that’s it.
6. Christmas pudding shot
Disclaimer alert, this Christmas pudding shot recipe is not exactly a shot.
It’s actually one of our infused vodka recipes – but it’s an absolute winner! It’s essentially a Christmas pudding within a vodka bottle where the spicy, citrus notes of the ingredients balance themselves well with the harsher vodka tones. Simply pour into a shot glass and you’re good to go.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (with this delicious vodka recipe)!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of vodka
- 300g dried fruits
- 75g caster sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tsp ground mixed spice
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 8 cloves
- 1 orange (zested)
- 1 lemon (zested)
Method:
- Step 1 – Add all of the spices, fruits, zests and sugar to a bowl filled with the vodka.
- Step 2 – Leave in the fridge for 3 days.
- Step 3 – Strain the mixture and pour into a sterilised bottle. Now, you’re ready to serve up in a shot glass!
NOTE: This vodka can be adapted into one of the top Christmas Martini recipes, making it even more festive. Experiment with flavours to find your perfect Martini!
7. Mini Eggnog
There’s nothing that says Christmas more than a good ol’ Eggnog. But these eggy boys can be a little too much to drink sometimes.
Maybe it’s the creaminess, the thickness or it’s just bit too eggnogy? We understand. To solve this, we think a Mini Eggnog is much better. Take a classic Eggnog recipe and add a splash of brandy, to make it go down easier. Even if you’re not an Eggnog fan, this is a recipe for everyone to enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 10ml brandy
- 40ml Eggnog
Method:
- Step 1 – Pour the brandy into a shot glass.
- Step 2 – Gently pour in the Eggnog. Use a spoon to pour the Eggnog into the glass, forcing the brandy to sit on top of it.
- Step 3 – Before shooting your Mini Eggnog, stir it up and mix the layers.
8. B52
Christmas shot drinks recipes don’t get anymore festive than this.
We joke, of course. The B52 is more of a party shot than anything else, but who said that doesn’t count?
Just like with the Santa shot, this will require your best layering bar skills. Shoddy work just won’t do here. A firm hand is needed, as well as a firm throat. Get the holiday party shimmying with some B52s.
Ingredients:
- 20ml Kahlua
- 20ml Baileys (Irish cream)
- 20ml Cointreau
Method:
- Step 1 – Starting with Kahlua and ending with Cointreau, layer the ingredients in order into the shot glass. This can be done by using a bar spoon and pouring the liquid onto the spoon head to sit gently on top of the layer below.
9. Mini Cosmopolitan
Who says we can’t turn a classic cocktail recipe into an amazing Christmas shot recipe? No one! So, let’s introduce the Mini Cosmo to you guys. Inspired by the original Cosmopolitan recipe, we challenge anyone to tell us this isn’t a Christmassy drink.
We’ve added a little extra to this recipe, however, with a bit of sugar rimming. By using an orangey sugar, drinkers will enjoy a zesty-yet-sweet blast before receiving the taste of cranberries and vodka. Delightful!
Ingredients:
- 40ml citron vodka
- 20ml Cointreau
- 30ml cranberry juice
- 10ml fresh lime juice
- Half an orange (zested)
- Sugar
Method:
- Step 1 – Pour the vodka, Cointreau, lime juice and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker and shake well.
- Step 2 – Mix the orange zest and sugar together. Rim the shot glasses with orange juice and drunk them into the orange zest-sugar mix.
- Step 3 – Pour the Cosmopolitan mixture into the the rimmed shot glass and serve.
10. Kamikaze
Are you looking to go a little crazy at that Christmas party coming up? Need something to spice up the evening? Then Kamikaze is the shot for you!
Combing vodka, orange liqueur and lime juice, it’s sure to leave a hard-hitting taste in your mouth and wake you up. Get it down you, son!
Ingredients:
- 20ml vodka
- 10ml Cointreau
- 10ml fresh lime juice
Method:
- Step 1 – Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well.
- Step 2 – Fine strain the mixture into shot glasses.
11. Blue Lagoon shots
Well look at us! We’ve only gone and turned a party classic into a teeny, tiny version.
The Blue Lagoon is already well-known to Wetherspoons pitcher lovers, but do it right and it can be quite delicious.
Blue cocktails can come across a wee bit tacky, but not this one, just pure blue vibez. Grab yourself a tall shot glass for this one, though, you’ll need it with all these ingredients!
Ingredients:
- 20ml coconut rum
- 20ml pineapple juice
- 20ml Blue Curaçao
- 20ml fresh lime juice
Method:
- Step 1 – Add all the ingredients to an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake well.
- Step 2 – Pour the mixture into a shot glass and enjoy!
12. Hot chocolate shot
Finally, here’s something for the super mad chocolate fans among you.
Christmas is all about indulging yourself and letting go. And what better way to do so than with a beautiful and delicious shot of vodka hot chocolate? (Although you’ll need to cool it first).
Ingredients:
- 30ml chocolate vodka
- 30ml whipped cream
- 180ml hot chocolate
Method:
- Step 1 – Prepare the hot chocolate beforehand and leave to cool.
- Step 2 – Add the mixture to a shot glass, about half way up the glass. Then pour in the vodka.
- Step 3 – Garnish with whipped cream, mini marshmallows and some chocolate sauce.
Have fun and Merry Christmas!
Your guests can’t be on the shots all night, so why not give them a bit more liquid in the form of a Christmas Margarita? It’s sweet, tart and with a tequila bite. Perfect for a festive get-together!
And if you want to master 60+ classic cocktails – take a look at our bartending course and what it can offer you!
